Overview

• A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's effort to dissolve USAID, led by the Doge committee under Elon Musk, is likely unconstitutional.
• The ruling restores USAID employees' access to emails, systems, and pay, and prohibits further steps to close the agency.
• Judge Theodore Chuang emphasized that the executive branch lacks the authority to close a congressional agency without legislative approval.
• The Doge committee's actions included laying off 1,600 employees and furloughing nearly all overseas staff, disrupting USAID's global aid operations.
• The case highlights broader tensions over executive power, congressional oversight, and the future of U.S. foreign aid under 'America First' policies.