ALBAWABA- The US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected President Donald Trump’s request to temporarily freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid that had already been approved by Congress.
The decision, as reported by CNN, allows the foreign aid to continue flowing, though the court did not set an immediate deadline for when the funds must be released, leaving the dispute open for further resolution in lower courts.
The ruling, decided 5-4, saw Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson forming the majority.
In contrast, Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The majority ruling emphasized that since the court-ordered deadline to spend the funds had already passed, it was up to the lower courts to clarify the government's obligations to comply with the restraining order.
Justice Alito, in his dissent, strongly criticized the court's decision, calling it an overreach and accusing the lower-court judge of overstepping its jurisdiction by compelling the administration to unfreeze the aid.
The dispute centers on billions of dollars in foreign aid that the Trump administration froze earlier this year, citing a desire to clamp down on spending and align agencies like the State Department and USAID with its agenda.
Nonprofit groups dependent on this funding, which supports global health and other programs, have argued that the freeze undermines Congress's authority and violates federal law.
While the Supreme Court ruling does not immediately require the Trump administration to release up to $2 billion in foreign aid, it paves the way for the district court to compel the payments once it provides further clarity on the contracts involved.
This ruling is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to consolidate power within the executive branch, raising questions about its approach to government spending and oversight.
