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A federal judge says the USAID shutdown likely violated the Constitution
Former U.S. Agency for International Development employees terminated after the Trump administration effectively dismantled the agency collect their personal belongings at USAID headquarters on Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C.
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Chip Somodevilla
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Getty Images
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A federal judge has found that the Trump administration likely violated the Constitution when it effectively shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development.
In a 68-page opinion Tuesday , U.S. District Court Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, wrote that "the Court finds that Defendants' actions taken to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including its apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID Officer, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways, and that these actions harmed not only Plaintiffs, but also the public interest, because they deprived the public's elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency created by Congress."
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President Trump signed a bill to fund the government through the end of January, ending the shutdown that has dragged on for six weeks. -
The House Oversight Committee has released a new tranche of documents, including several emails from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that refer to President Trump. -
Airlines and aviation regulators warned that flight disruptions are likely to continue even after the government reopens. Thousands of flights have been canceled as air traffic restrictions ramp up.
The plaintiffs are more than two dozen unnamed current or recently fired employees and contractors of USAID. The defendants are Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.
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USAID employees who were fired or put on administrative leave were told to show up at the now-shuttered USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., late last month to collect their belongings . Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said most foreign aid contracts will be canceled .
In recent days, the White House has criticized federal judges who've ruled against the executive branch's authority.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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