US Judge Halts Trump’s Plan to Put USAID Workers on Leave

Temporary Order Restores 2,700 Jobs as Legal Battle Continues

Washington, D.C., February 9, 2025 – A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to put 2,700 USAID employees on leave, pausing a move that critics say is an attempt to dismantle the foreign aid agency.

Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, issued an interim ruling in response to a lawsuit filed by federal employee unions, arguing that the administration’s actions exceeded executive authority. His order, in effect until February 14, prevents the administration from:

✅ Placing 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave
✅ Reinstates 500 already furloughed employees
✅ Blocking the forced relocation of USAID humanitarian workers

Nichols will revisit the case in a hearing set for Wednesday, where a longer-term injunction will be considered.

Trump Administration’s Stance & USAID Shutdown

Trump has accused USAID of corruption without evidence, calling for its shutdown in a post on Truth Social:

"Corruption at USAID is at levels rarely seen before. Close it down!"

Just hours after his January 20 inauguration, Trump froze all US foreign aid under his "America First" policy. This move has:

Halted billions in humanitarian aid globally
❌ Stopped all new USAID grants and contracts
Paralyzed essential programs, including food assistance, health, and anti-corruption initiatives

Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, is reportedly leading efforts to shrink the federal workforce, overseeing USAID’s restructuring.

In 2023, the US disbursed $72 billion in aid, much of it through USAID, covering:
✔️ Women’s health
✔️ Clean water access
✔️ HIV/AIDS treatment
✔️ Energy security

Now, USAID’s future hangs in the balance as the legal battle intensifies.

Judge Declines to Block Musk’s Access to Labour Department Data

In a separate ruling, US District Judge John Bates denied an AFL-CIO request to block Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) from accessing the US Department of Labour’s systems.

Key concerns:
Musk could access sensitive data on government fraud investigations
⚠️ Includes probes into SpaceX, Tesla, and The Boring Company
Bureau of Labour Statistics data on economic trends and worker protections

Despite these concerns, the court ruled the unions failed to show immediate harm, though the case is still ongoing.

Labour groups argue Musk is overstepping his authority, calling his government takeover unprecedented.