Federal court mandates Trump administration to allocate billions for foreign assistance.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has issued a ruling that necessitates the Donald Trump administration to spend billions of dollars on international aid. The decision comes after a panel of three judges, with a 2-1 majority, found that the administration's refusal to spend the funds likely violates U.S. laws governing federal agencies.
Federal Judge Amit Mehta, who presided over the case, emphasised that the administration must execute congressional appropriations. This means the Trump administration cannot refuse funding that Congress approved for aid programs worldwide.
In response, the Department of Justice has indicated it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case urgently and stay the order of the federal judge in Washington. However, as of now, the administration is required to release the funds, which amount to approximately $12 billion of the $30 billion in international aid funds.
If the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) do not commit to at least planning how to use the funds by September 30, they risk having the funds cancelled. The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the administration and Congress over foreign aid spending.
The court's ruling also highlighted the importance of adhering to the Administrative Procedure Act. The Act is a set of rules that govern how federal agencies can propose, implement, and change regulations, and the administration's decision to withhold the funds was found to violate these rules.
As the case progresses, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. Supreme Court will review the case and whether the Trump administration will comply with the court's order to release the international aid funds. The ruling is a reminder of the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government, and the importance of adhering to the laws and regulations that govern them.
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