**US Court Halts Cuts to USAID**
A US federal court has blocked further cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The ruling says that the dismantling of the agency by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) likely broke the US Constitution.
**Background**
The Trump administration had already cut 83% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts. Many of its staff members were laid off or put on administrative leave. This move was particularly bad for Ukraine, which got $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid and over $30 billion in budget support from USAID since Russia invaded.
**Court Order**
The court order requires the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to all USAID employees. However, it does not bring back the agency or reinstate staff who were fired.
**Judge’s Ruling**
US District Judge Theodore Chuang rejected the administration’s claim that Elon Musk is just an adviser to President Donald Trump. The judge said Musk’s public statements and social media posts showed he was in control of DOGE. Musk had written on Twitter that he “fed USAID into the wood chipper.”
**Lawsuit**
The lawsuit, filed by USAID employees and contractors, says Musk and DOGE took powers reserved for elected officials or Senate-confirmed appointees. The ruling means many steps to shut down the agency are being reversed.
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