Foreign Aid Funding Freeze
Secretary Rubio issued stop-work order January 24 freezing all foreign aid. Courts found the government violated the separation of powers by declining to spend congressionally appropriated funds. Judge Ali ordered nearly $2 billion in payments. Supreme Court restored the order 5-4 after Chief Justice Roberts' temporary stay. D.C. Circuit found the government 'has given no justification to displace the bedrock expectation that Congress's appropriations must be followed.'
Details
Secretary Rubio issued stop-work order January 24 freezing all foreign aid. Courts found the government violated the separation of powers by declining to spend congressionally appropriated funds. Judge Ali ordered nearly $2 billion in payments. Supreme Court restored the order 5-4 after Chief Justice Roberts' temporary stay. D.C. Circuit found the government 'has given no justification to displace the bedrock expectation that Congress's appropriations must be followed.'
Date Issued
2025-01-24
Type
Policy Directive
Legal & Institutional Responses (2)
Global Health Council v. State Department - Foreign Aid Freeze
Challenge to the freeze on foreign assistance funds. Judge Ali issued TROs and ordered nearly $2 billion in payments. Supreme Court vacated the initial administrative stay 5-4, restoring the payment order. D.C. Circuit found the government violated the Appropriations Clause. Judge Ali ordered payments for work performed before February 3.
D.C. Circuit - Foreign Aid Impoundment Ruling
D.C. Circuit ruled that the government violated the separation of powers by declining to spend congressionally appropriated foreign aid funds. Found the government 'has given no justification to displace the bedrock expectation that Congress's appropriations must be followed' and the government 'remain under a duty to comply with the appropriations laws.'
Affected Agencies
- Department of State
- USAID