Federal judge halts USAID shutdown

18Mar

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World

Federal judge halts USAID shutdown

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from taking any further steps to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) In a ruling Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang said the efforts, led by Trump ally Elon Musk's Department for Government Efficiency (Doge), likely violated the US constitution "in multiple ways". Chuang ordered Doge to restore access to USAID's computer and payment systems for employees, including those who were placed on leave. The judge also ruled that termination of USAID employees should stop, but did not order the reinstating of employees previously placed on leave. The ruling came in a case brought on behalf of 26 unnamed USAID employees who allege in court filings that Musk is following "a predictable and reckless slash-and...

What is USAID and why is Trump reportedly poised to close it?

The future of the US government's main overseas aid agency has been cast into doubt, with employees locked out and the Trump administration planning to merge it with the US Department of State. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would continue to function as a branch of the state department, but the plan involves a significant reduction in its funding and the workforce, CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reports. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused USAID's leadership of "insubordination" and said he was now its "acting head". US President Donald Trump and one of his top advisers, billionaire Elon Musk, have been strongly critical of the agency. But the move to shut it down could have a profound impact on humanitarian programmes a...

USAID Provides Additional $29 Million to Support Resilience and Food Security in Somalia

The United States, through USAID, is providing nearly $29 million in additional assistance to build resilience and improve food security for Somalia’s most vulnerable people. In Somalia, an estimated 6.9 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2024 due to the combined impacts of severe weather events, insecurity, disease outbreaks, and widespread poverty. Excessive rains and flooding, which were particularly destructive in 2023 due to the El Niño phenomenon, resulted in the destruction of property, loss of livelihoods and access to basic services, further population displacement, and an increase in cholera and other water-borne diseases, particularly affecting the most vulnerable. This additional assistance, representing the first year of two new five-year resilience ...