A Trump-appointed judge said at an emergency hearing Friday he would place a temporary block on the administration's plan to place 2,200 International Development Agency (USAID) employees on paid leave by midnight, Fox News learned.
He also told government lawyers he wasn't sure if he would include the 500 employees who are already on leave on his order.
US District Judge Carl Nichols sided with two federal Employee Associations, the American Foreign Office Association and the U.S. Government Employee Federation, which filed lawsuits over the order on Thursday.
Officials “we were unable to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of their actions, as it relates to both American workers, the lives of millions around the world, and to the national interests of the United States.” The lawsuit says.
The protesters will gather in support of USAID. (AP Photo/j. Scott Apple White)
Nichols said the plaintiffs “established irreparable harm,” adding that “they will be zero to suspend this for a short time to the government.”
Nichols added that it would be a “very limited” temporary restraining order.
“Close!” President Trump wrote on a true social Friday of the US agency that oversees international development.
USAID officials told reporters Friday that the agency “stops existing.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the most important lifesaving program managed by USAID has been granted a continuing exemption.
USAID was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and had a budget of over 10,000 employees and a annual budget of around $40 billion.
Headquarters of the United States International Development Organization (USAID) in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
On Friday, the USAID website announced that midnight, “All USAID direct employment officers will be responsible for mission-critical features, core leadership and specially designated programs worldwide, except for designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. He said he will be placed on administrative leave. He will be notified by the agency's leadership on Thursday, February 6th at 3pm EST.”
Trump and Elon Musk, who run the government's cost-cutting division of efficiency, say they may drive USAID's life-saving life-saving program under the State Department.
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Rubio said the US government will continue to provide foreign aid, but said, “But that makes sense and it is foreign aid that aligns with our national interests.”
Democrat critics said the move was illegal and requires Congressional approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
