The Trump administration faces a legal challenge over its drastic cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as unions representing federal employees argue the president lacks the authority to dismantle the agency.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Washington, D.C., by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), claims the administration’s decision to reduce USAID staff from approximately 10,000 to fewer than 300 globally is unconstitutional and violates federal law.
The Trump administration has defended the cuts, arguing that USAID has been wasting taxpayer money and must align more closely with presidential priorities. However, unions and legal experts contend that only Congress has the authority to dissolve a federal agency.
Legal and Political Implications
The lawsuit, which also names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Treasury Department, and USAID itself, asserts that the administration’s moves are illegal because they bypass congressional approval. The plaintiffs seek immediate court intervention to halt the plan, arguing that shutting down USAID endangers U.S. national security and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
“Not a single one of defendants’ actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization,” the lawsuit states, emphasizing that only Congress has the legal authority to eliminate a federal agency.
The legal action demands several immediate remedies, including reinstating USAID employees, reopening agency offices, restoring funding for aid programs, and lifting mandatory evacuation orders for staff.
Global Fallout and Controversy
The lawsuit highlights the international impact of USAID’s shutdown, warning that abruptly halting crucial aid programs has created a humanitarian crisis. The agency funds and supports health, education, and economic development programs worldwide, and its sudden closure could have dire consequences for vulnerable populations.
Elon Musk, who has been involved in spearheading the USAID restructuring, has also come under scrutiny. The lawsuit suggests that his role in the agency’s overhaul has exacerbated the crisis.
Despite mounting criticism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s actions, addressing USAID employees in Guatemala on Wednesday. He reassured them that the U.S. will continue foreign aid programs but stressed that they must align with American interests.
“The United States is not walking away from foreign aid,” Rubio said. “It has to be programs that we can defend, explain, and justify.”
With thousands of USAID employees expected to be placed on administrative leave by Friday, the legal battle could shape the future of U.S. foreign aid policy and government agency oversight.
