Court Stops Trump From Sending Aid Workers Home.
A judge blocked President Trump's plan to put 2,200 aid workers on leave. The ruling came hours before the workers had to stop their jobs at the U.S. aid group USAID.
Judge Carl Nichols said the workers could stay for one more week, until February 14. He made this choice after two worker groups went to court to save their jobs.
Trump wants to close USAID, saying it wastes tax money. His plan would send most of the group's 10,000 workers home, keeping just 611 people. About 500 workers had already left their desks when the judge stepped in.
The worker groups told the court Trump broke U.S. laws. The judge agreed the workers would face great harm without his help. His order brings back the 500 workers who had left. They can use their work computers and will be paid.
The judge plans to hear more about a longer pause next week. At USAID's main office in Washington, workers have started removing signs. The group's website shows only a note about job cuts.
USAID provides more aid than any other group in the world. Most of its money helps sick people in poor lands, and most of its workers live in other lands.
Two groups spoke up for the workers—the American Foreign Service group and a group for government workers. They said only Congress, not the president, can close USAID.
Trump's lawyer said the president found bad things at USAID. Trump wants to spend less government money, so he started a new office led by Elon Musk to cut costs.
Right after Trump became president, he stopped all help to other lands until he could check it matched his "America First" plans. USAID helps people in 120 lands.
"USAID makes the far left mad," Trump wrote online. "They waste money. Shut it down!"
Samantha Power, who led USAID under President Biden, wrote back. She called it one of the worst choices in the U.S. past.
The U.S. gives more help than any other land. USAID uses $40 billion each year, a small part of U.S. spending.
The U.N.'s AIDS help leader said this would hurt many people. She thinks 6.3 million more people might die from AIDS in five years if the money stops.
A judge blocked President Trump's plan to put 2,200 aid workers on leave. The ruling came hours before the workers had to stop their jobs at the U.S. aid group USAID.
Judge Carl Nichols said the workers could stay for one more week, until February 14. He made this choice after two worker groups went to court to save their jobs.
Trump wants to close USAID, saying it wastes tax money. His plan would send most of the group's 10,000 workers home, keeping just 611 people. About 500 workers had already left their desks when the judge stepped in.
The worker groups told the court Trump broke U.S. laws. The judge agreed the workers would face great harm without his help. His order brings back the 500 workers who had left. They can use their work computers and will be paid.
The judge plans to hear more about a longer pause next week. At USAID's main office in Washington, workers have started removing signs. The group's website shows only a note about job cuts.
USAID provides more aid than any other group in the world. Most of its money helps sick people in poor lands, and most of its workers live in other lands.
Two groups spoke up for the workers—the American Foreign Service group and a group for government workers. They said only Congress, not the president, can close USAID.
Trump's lawyer said the president found bad things at USAID. Trump wants to spend less government money, so he started a new office led by Elon Musk to cut costs.
Right after Trump became president, he stopped all help to other lands until he could check it matched his "America First" plans. USAID helps people in 120 lands.
"USAID makes the far left mad," Trump wrote online. "They waste money. Shut it down!"
Samantha Power, who led USAID under President Biden, wrote back. She called it one of the worst choices in the U.S. past.
The U.S. gives more help than any other land. USAID uses $40 billion each year, a small part of U.S. spending.
The U.N.'s AIDS help leader said this would hurt many people. She thinks 6.3 million more people might die from AIDS in five years if the money stops.
