US court blocks Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Sep 2025 22:34

A federal appeals court in Washington has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut $5 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, ruling the move exceeded executive authority.

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US President Donald Trump arrives for a dinner in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled against efforts by the Trump administration to cut nearly $5 billion in foreign aid, upholding a lower court decision that deemed the move unlawful.

In a decision issued on Friday, the appeals court refused to stay the lower court’s ruling, stating that the administration had failed to meet the legal requirements for blocking the injunction.

“Appellants have not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending appeal,” the court wrote in its decision.

The ruling represents a legal blow to Washington's ongoing efforts to reshape US foreign policy through unilateral executive action, particularly in relation to international aid and multilateral cooperation.

Trump’s budget-cutting agenda targeted international programs

In late August, US President Donald Trump moved to cancel 15 foreign aid programs totaling $4.9 billion.

The proposed cuts affected multiple departments and agencies, including the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the International Assistance Programs.

The funds had already been approved by Congress, making the administration's attempt to halt disbursement a violation of legislative authority.

Programs affected by the planned cuts

Among the targeted programs were those supporting global health, humanitarian assistance, development financing, and multilateral initiatives. Critics warned that the cuts would severely weaken US influence abroad and undermine existing commitments to international organizations.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has doubled down on a platform of reducing federal spending, particularly for multilateral institutions. The administration has repeatedly criticized such organizations as ineffective and misaligned with the United States' national interests.

Judicial pushback against executive overreach

This is not the first time the courts have intervened in attempts to bypass congressional authority. Legal experts argue that withholding already-approved funds without legislative consent sets a dangerous precedent for executive overreach.

Earlier in his term, Trump froze US funding to programs such as the World Health Organization and withdrew from international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, moves that drew significant criticism from both domestic and international observers.

The appeals court’s decision is likely to reinforce institutional checks on the White House’s budgetary discretion and signal a continued judicial scrutiny of the administration’s approach to foreign aid.