Federal Judge Permits DOGE Takeover of African Development Agency

The U.S. African Development Foundation's leadership challenge against the Trump administration's restructuring efforts faces legal setbacks.

A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking control of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF).
Judge Richard Leon ruled that USADF President Ward Brehm failed to demonstrate irreparable harm from the takeover, though the legality of the administration's actions remains under scrutiny.
The Trump administration's executive order seeks to dismantle USADF and three other agencies as part of broader efforts to reduce federal government size.
USADF, an independent agency established in 1980, supports grassroots and small-scale economic development projects in Africa and received $46 million in funding from Congress in 2023.
The case raises questions about presidential authority to remove independent agency board members, with legal experts suggesting the Supreme Court's conservative majority may revisit long-standing precedents on this issue.