A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to lift its three-week freeze on U.S. foreign aid funding.
Judge Amir Ali issued the ruling in U.S. district court in Washington on Thursday. The lawsuit was brought by two health organizations that rely on U.S. funds for overseas programs.
The Trump administration said the funding freeze was necessary to review thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs. Officials argued they needed to determine which programs should be cut.
However, Judge Ali disagreed. He noted that the administration didn’t explain why a complete suspension was required before reviewing the programs.
USAID has been around since 1961, created during the Kennedy administration. The agency operates independently but works closely with the State Department.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that USAID could be abolished soon. He mentioned this in a letter to bipartisan lawmakers earlier this month.
Rubio stated the agency may undergo a reorganization in the coming days. This could potentially mean an end to its current structure.
For now, the judge’s order ensures the immediate restoration of U.S. foreign aid funding.