The largest U.S. government workers' union and the American Foreign Service Association have sued the Trump administration, seeking to halt the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., argues that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional and have triggered a global humanitarian crisis.
On January 20, President Donald Trump ordered a pause on all U.S. foreign aid, followed by State Department directives halting USAID projects. Agency staff were abruptly laid off, and computer systems went offline. The lawsuit, naming Trump and the State and Treasury Departments as defendants, alleges these moves lack congressional authorization, violating federal law.
Businessman Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, has played a key role in USAID’s dismantling. On social media platform X, which he owns, Musk boasted about eliminating the agency, stating he and his team "spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper." Sources reveal the administration plans to retain fewer than 300 of USAID’s 10,000 employees.
The agency’s shutdown has disrupted global health initiatives, leaving efforts to combat malaria and HIV in disarray. The lawsuit claims that 300 infants have contracted HIV due to halted programs, while thousands of women face life-threatening pregnancy complications. Additionally, a $340 million food aid shipment remains stranded, worsening hunger worldwide.
Established as an independent agency by Congress in 1998, USAID cannot be lawfully dissolved by the president alone. The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to restore USAID’s funding, reopen its offices, and prevent further dismantling. The White House and federal agencies have not yet commented.
This legal battle underscores the stakes of Trump's foreign aid freeze, raising concerns about humanitarian aid disruptions and executive overreach.