Court prevents Trump from shutting down African development agency

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Appointment at US African Development Foundation

A federal judge has intervened, preventing President Trump from appointing a new head for the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). The judge suspended Trump’s orders indefinitely, which had aimed to significantly cut the agency’s workforce and its funding.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that Trump’s selection of Peter Marrocco as the acting chair of USADF was likely unconstitutional, asserting that Marrocco would need Senate confirmation to take on the role effectively.

“The defendant contends that the president has inherent Article II authority to appoint a principal representative, but the chances of this argument succeeding seem slim,” Leon noted in his judgement, which spans 16 pages.

Leon further stated that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in their legal challenge regarding Marrocco’s appointment, pointing out his reservations about the legality involved. Notably, Leon was appointed by the former President Bush.

The Trump administration is actively seeking to dismantle agencies like the USADF, claiming there has been substantial waste and abuse. Marrocco’s appointment followed Trump’s executive order in February to remove USADF and other development agencies. Previously, Marrocco had played a significant role overseeing the dissolution of the U.S. International Development Agency.

Marrocco, aiming to place himself in a leadership position, started implementing cuts that dramatically affected the agency, retaining only minimal operations for a few employees while targeting existing grants, as detailed in court documentation.

Last week, Marrocco made statements regarding the status of grants, indicating that while the USADF had claimed to end certain programs, it had failed to update the necessary contact details for recipients.

The judge’s ruling also involves a consulting firm based in Zambia that relies on USADF funding. This firm, along with former USADF employees, sought legal intervention but was denied an injunction, as the court found they hadn’t sufficiently demonstrated irreparable harm.

Representation for the plaintiffs came from the Democracy Forward Foundation, a progressive legal organization known for its litigation against the Trump administration.

“This is a win for the community that depends on the rule of law and the vital work of the USADF,” stated Joel McElvan, senior legal counsel for the group. “The president cannot arbitrarily dissolve federal agencies or sidestep Congress without the proper legal grounds. We will continue to challenge these overreaches to uphold the USADF’s mission as outlined by Congress.”

This case represents one of two lawsuits currently challenging the administration’s actions regarding the USADF.

Previously, Leon had dismissed a similar lawsuit from Ward Brem, a former USADF board member who claimed to be the organization’s president, ultimately ruling that he lacked standing to bring the suit.