Judge extends pause on Trump dismantling of USAID through February 21
CNN
A federal judge has extended the pause on the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID for another week after an extensive hearing Thursday.
A federal judge has extended the pause on the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID for another week after an extensive hearing Thursday. The case is one of the most significant early tests of President Donald Trump’s power to reduce the federal workforce and shutter an agency. Judge Carl Nichols of the DC District Court said he will continue to have a court order in place that reinstates USAID workers whom the administration previously placed on paid leave, and blocks the administration from taking further action that potentially could hurt USAID workers, especially those who are stationed in foreign countries that have high security risks, until February 21. Nichols, who is a 2019 Trump appointee to the trial-level court, hasn’t yet decided on whether he will allow the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the agency or indefinitely block that from happening. He said he will make a ruling on that question by the end of next week, though his decision is likely to be appealed. Other cases attempting to challenge the shuttering of USAID are still ongoing in court. This story is breaking and will be updated.
Approximately 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, according to two sources familiar with the matter, adding to the growing military firepower in the region as the Trump administration says it is in talks with Iran to end the conflict.
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