Federal Judge Halts USAID Shutdown Amid Legal Challenges to Trump’s Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge has issued a ruling ordering a halt to the Trump administration’s efforts to rapidly dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), deeming the actions likely unconstitutional. Judge Theodore D. Chuang in Maryland issued the order on March 18, 2025, following a lawsuit filing by current and former USAID employees.

Chuang found the Trump administration’s move to terminate USAID’s operations infringed on congressional authority while also likely violating the U.S. Constitution. He highlighted that the executive measures to shutter USAID without the approval of a duly appointed official were detrimental not only to the plaintiffs involved but also to public interests.

The ruling commands that all work relating to the agency’s closure be suspended and that email access for USAID employees and contractors be reinstated. Furthermore, the administration has until March 31 to either verify the reopening of the headquarters in Washington, D.C., or obtain confirmation from a senior USAID official about the agency’s closure.

During the hearing, Judge Chuang emphasized the significant role USAID has played in managing U.S. foreign assistance and the implications of its shutdown. The agency’s funding was initially proposed for cuts as part of a broader government efficiency initiative led by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, appointed to head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This proposal had been met with significant opposition from multiple quarters.

The lawsuit came at a time when over 1,300 employees were placed on administrative leave as the agency faced restructuring plans that would presumably reduce its presence in international operations and transfer its functions to the State Department. Tim Meisburger, head of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, had recently briefed staff on a timeline signaling the agency’s closure by the end of September 2025, coinciding with the expiration of a newly brokered government funding deal. Meisburger indicated that the reorganization would include a significant overhaul of the agency’s structure and a potential limitation on its overseas activities.

In light of the ruling, former USAID employees expressed relief at the prospect of reinstatement while voicing concerns about ongoing uncertainties surrounding their employment and the mission of the agency. “The decision to halt the shutdown is a critical step towards preserving our commitment to foreign assistance and humanitarian efforts worldwide,” said Noelle Huhn, a former USAID worker. “It allows us to continue doing the work that we were trained for and experienced in.”

As legal discussions proceed, agency officials must navigate the ramifications of recent decisions and consider the future operations of USAID amid a politically contentious environment. The judgment serves as a notable intervention in the ongoing debate about the Trump administration’s policies affecting federal agencies and their role in international efforts.