A U.S. court has ordered the Trump administration to pay the bills of foreign contractors working for USAID.

District Judge Amir Ali has mandated that the U.S. presidential administration comply with his previously issued temporary order, which prohibits the suspension of foreign aid funding. By Thursday, the State Department must settle the bills for work completed by USAID contractors prior to February 13.

https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-world/3964531-sud-u-ssa-zobovazav-administraciu-trampa-oplatiti-rahunki-inozemnih-pidradnikiv-usaid.html2025-02-26 08:20:32

This is reported by CBS News, as conveyed by Ukrinform.

According to a judge's ruling, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) must pay all invoices for work performed by foreign contractors of the Agency by midnight on February 26.

The contractors claimed they were deprived of funding due to an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump and a subsequent directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, under which U.S. foreign aid was "frozen" for 90 days.

During emergency court hearings on Tuesday, a U.S. Department of Justice lawyer was unable to explain what steps the Trump administration is taking to restore funding for foreign aid programs.

In 2023, USAID managed a budget exceeding $40 billion, with a significant portion allocated to American organizations that provide funds to foreign entities worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues the "dismantling" of USAID. Approximately 4,200 of its employees have been placed on administrative leave after a federal judge dismissed union petitions last week.

As reported by Ukrinform, on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to suspend all foreign aid programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine if they align with his political objectives.

On January 24, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered to "halt operations" regarding all foreign aid, except for the Gaza Strip and Sudan.

Later, Donald Trump called for the closure of USAID due to corruption and fraud.

USAID announced that it is initiating a process of "staff reductions", resulting in the elimination of at least 1,600 positions.