A United States district judge has determined that the administration of President Donald Trump must pay nearly $2 billion in pending foreign aid. The judge stated that payment must be made for work that has been completed, ruling against Trump’s administration on a major legal issue. The judge also declined a request from nonprofits and businesses to reinstate thousands of canceled foreign aid grants and contracts.

On January 20, the administration ceased foreign aid payments on the president’s first day in office. In a February ruling, Judge Amir Ali ordered the Trump administration to resume foreign aid, setting a deadline of February 26. However, the Supreme Court rejected an emergency request from the administration last week to freeze the $2 billion in payments for foreign aid work done up to February 13.

The US Supreme Court’s ruling paved the way for Judge Ali to order the payment. Judge Ali also ruled that the president must spend money approved by Congress.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration had finalized its six-week review of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been operating for sixty years. He stated that approximately 5,200 out of 6,200 programs were eliminated, claiming they wasted money and harmed the United States’ interests. The remaining 18% of programs will be better managed by the State Department, according to Rubio.

(Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko )

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-administration-ordered-to-pay-2-billion-in-foreign-aid/a-71883180?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf