A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s effort to scale back the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), preventing the administration from forcing thousands of employees to return to the United States within 30 days.
Judge Carl Nichols issued the order, citing potential risks and undue hardship for USAID employees and their families working abroad.
The ruling comes as the Trump administration seeks to significantly reduce USAID’s operations, including suspending funding for key international programs. Some USAID workers, including contractors in the Middle East, reported losing access to critical communication systems, such as emergency “panic button” apps, following the furloughs.
The lawsuit challenging the administration’s move is ongoing.