The Trump administration has secured a significant legal victory, at least for now, as the Supreme Court has placed a temporary hold on a lower court ruling that required the federal government to pay $2 billion in foreign aid. Chief Justice John Roberts granted the administration’s emergency request for a stay, effectively pausing U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s order pending further review.
The ruling represents a major procedural win for the White House, which had argued that the lower court’s decision imposed an "arbitrary" deadline that made compliance nearly impossible.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, in the administration’s emergency filing, underscored the challenges of processing such a large sum under the constraints set by Judge Ali, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.
“The government is undertaking substantial efforts to review payment requests and release payments,” Harris noted, making the case that an immediate payout was both impractical and unreasonable.
Roberts’ order was direct and to the point. It not only stayed the lower court’s decision but also set a deadline for responses—opposing parties have until noon on February 28 to submit their arguments. This provides the justices with a critical window to assess whether the Supreme Court will formally intervene and issue a more definitive ruling on the matter.
At the heart of the dispute is the broader question of executive authority over foreign aid disbursements, a matter that has often been entangled in political and legal battles.
The Trump administration has taken a firm stance on reducing and restructuring foreign aid, prioritizing American domestic interests over international commitments made by previous administrations. This latest court battle fits into a broader pattern of legal challenges as the administration seeks to reshape federal spending priorities.
While the stay offers temporary relief to the administration, the case is far from settled. The Supreme Court has yet to determine if it will take up the matter in full, leaving open the possibility that the funds could still be ordered for release at a later stage.
However, the justices’ response to the emergency request suggests that at least some members of the Court see merit in the administration’s arguments.