A major shakeup at a key U.S. foreign aid agency draws legal challenges from government workers' unions.
According to Reuters, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its aggressive dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The legal action, filed in Washington, D.C. federal court, aims to block what the unions describe as unconstitutional measures that have sparked a global humanitarian crisis. The lawsuit targets President Trump's January 20 inauguration day order that halted all U.S. foreign aid, followed by State Department directives stopping USAID projects worldwide.
The administration's plans involve retaining fewer than 300 employees from USAID's workforce of over 10,000. Businessman Elon Musk, Trump's close ally and the world's wealthiest individual, has taken charge of reducing the federal bureaucracy. Musk publicly commented on the agency's dismantling through his social media platform X on Monday.
The lawsuit claims the administration's actions lack congressional authorization. According to the legal filing, only Congress has the legal authority to dismantle the agency, which was established as an independent entity through a 1998 law.
The agency's website has announced that all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally starting Friday midnight. Only staff responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership, and specially designated programs will remain active.
The lawsuit details the devastating impact of USAID's collapse on global humanitarian efforts. According to the filing:
Not a single one of defendants' actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization. And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency.
The shutdown has brought essential disease prevention programs, including those targeting malaria and HIV, to a halt. It has also disrupted global hunger relief, stranding around 500,000 metric tons of food worth $340 million.
Elon Musk's role in dismantling the agency became clear when he posted on social media that he had "spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper." The abrupt closure has already had serious consequences. Reports indicate that 300 preventable HIV cases have emerged, and thousands of pregnant women now face greater risks during childbirth.
The unions are seeking both temporary and permanent court orders to restore USAID's funding and operations. These measures would prevent further dissolution attempts by the administration while maintaining essential global aid programs.
The White House and relevant departments, including State and Treasury, have not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The case highlights the growing tension between the administration's efforts to reduce federal agencies and the humanitarian consequences of such actions.
The defendants in the case include President Trump and the State and Treasury Departments. The legal challenge questions the constitutional authority of the administration to dissolve an independently established agency without congressional approval.
The lawsuit filed by government worker unions challenges Trump's dismantling of USAID, which has severely impacted global humanitarian efforts. The legal action aims to block the administration's moves to shut down the agency and restore its crucial operations worldwide. The case's outcome will determine the future of U.S. foreign aid programs and the agency's ability to continue its mission-critical humanitarian work.
