The new ruling halted the orders of federal judges in Maryland and thwarted the Trump administration’s efforts to cut operations in USAID.
On March 28, the federal court of appeals withdrew a lower court order that blocked efforts led by Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the United States Organization for International Development (USAID).
With a new order, A. Judge MarvinQuattlebaum Jr. writes that the Richmond, Virginia-based court of appeals has granted an motion to block a lower court order because it is in the public interest.
The judge demonstrated that Musk and Doj were likely to win merit when the case was heard, and said they were “irreparably injured without their stay.”
Quattlebaum also wrote that 26 current and former employees or contractors of USAID who filed lawsuits against Musk and Doge were “not injured due to their stay.”
Chuan’s injunction included findings that actions by Musk and the Doge team aimed at reducing the operations of USAID, which provides humanitarian assistance.
The Trump administration argued that Article 2 of the Constitution, which spells out the powers of the administrative division, allows the president to reduce institutions as part of his power to control the country’s diplomatic relations.
Musk and Doge’s actions “had “damaged the public interest… hurt the public interest” as they deprived them of their constitutional authority to deciding whether, when, and how the institutions created by the Congress would be shut down.
The judge directed Musk and Doji to restore access to the USAID system for USAID workers and contractors, and ordered no further action was taken regarding the employment of contracts or agents’ workers.
On February 4th, President Donald Trump said, “I think so,” in response to a reporter’s question about whether he was planning to “defeat” USAID. The president also said Doge leader Elon Musk “doesn’t do a great job.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
