A United States judge on Friday, February 21, gave President Donald Trump's administration the leeway to put thousands of US Agency for International Development (USAID) workers on compulsory leave. The ruling followed a conservatory order issued by the court last week, which temporarily paused the US government's freeze on foreign aid until the matter was heard and determined.
According to Reuters, Judge Carl Nicols lifted a temporary restraining order he had issued at the outset of the case and refused to issue a longer-term order to stop the USAID employees from job termination.
While making the ruling, the judge expressed satisfaction with the US government's freeze on foreign aid and Trump's assurance that foreign employees working under USAID would be protected by his administration until the end of the compulsory leave.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID)flag, January 16, 2025.
