Several Latin America-based nonprofits have accused the Trump administration of overstepping its powers when it fired the entire IAF board.
Washington–A federal judge in Washington blocked President Donald Trump’s administration on April 4, fired the leader of the American Foundation (IAF) and canceled most of its grant agreements.
US District Judge Lauren Alican ruled her after an April 2 hearing that covered the request for an injunction in two cases. Foundation President Sarah Abier, the other was brought to you by a group of nonprofits based in Latin America.
The order will prevent the removal of Abier and the role of Pete Marrocco, director of the State Department of Foreign Assistance, from serving as a representative board member of the IAF. Marrocco also negates actions taken in his role as a proxy board member, including Grant’s termination.
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Government lawyers said making such changes was part of Trump’s enforcement.
The IAF was founded by Congress in 1969 and works with nonprofits from Latin American countries to investigate the root causes of migration.
According to court documents, agents Ethan Xiao-Tran and Nate Kavanaugh, of the Ministry of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arrived at the IAF headquarters on February 20th and informed the leadership that they had come to improve the foundation’s technical system.
Later, according to court documents, the IAF president realized that Doge was there to carry out one of Trump’s executive orders.
The IAF leadership received an email from Trent Morse, deputy director of the Presidential Personnel Office, on February 26th, a week later, informing her that she had been fired. Two days later, Morse sent another email to inform the IAF board member that he had been fired and that Marrocco had been appointed as the sole board member.
According to court documents, Marrocco, as its sole member, has called an emergency committee meeting to cancel all of the foundation’s grant agreements and announced that it will cut down all staff except newly hired president Dominique Bunbaka.
The plaintiffs allege that these moves violate federal law and are calling for consultations with both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees before restructuring the foundation.
They said all boards were legally made public and announced a week ago.
The government retorted that such changes were essentially within the authority of the administrative department.
The nonprofit lawsuit amounts to a contractual dispute, with IAF’s new leadership, Marocco and Bumbaca, who said they are entitled to cancel either grant.
At a hearing on April 2, the government said the IAF will continue to spend the $30 million allocated to Congress.
Judge Alican appeared skeptical and told the government:
