March 19, 2025 – 6:52 PM CDT
In a stunning legal development, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang has issued a ruling that halts the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), declaring that the actions led by billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.” The decision, handed down earlier today in a Maryland federal court, marks a significant setback for the Trump administration’s aggressive push to dismantle federal agencies and cut government spending.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in mid-February by 26 unnamed current and former USAID employees and contractors, who argued that Musk’s efforts to shutter the agency exceeded his authority and infringed upon constitutional principles. Judge Chuang’s preliminary injunction orders Musk and DOGE to immediately restore access to USAID’s email, payment systems, and other electronic infrastructure for all current employees and personal services contractors. Additionally, the judge has barred Musk and his task force from taking further steps to close USAID facilities, terminate staff, or delete agency data, pending further legal proceedings.
In his nearly 70-page opinion, Chuang emphasized that Musk, a senior White House adviser and head of DOGE, appeared to have overstepped his role by making unilateral decisions to close USAID’s headquarters and dismantle its operations—actions that he lacked the legal authority to execute. “The evidence presently favors the conclusion that Musk made the decisions to shut down USAID’s headquarters and website even though he ‘lacked the authority to make that decision,’” Chuang wrote, rejecting the administration’s claim that Musk was merely an advisor. The judge further argued that these moves undermined Congress’s constitutional authority to oversee the fate of an agency it created under the Foreign Assistance Act.
The Trump administration, which has championed DOGE as a tool to root out “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the federal government, responded swiftly to the ruling. President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, called the decision “outrageous” and vowed to appeal. “We’ll be appealing it—I guarantee you we will be appealing it,” Trump declared, lambasting what he described as “rogue judges destroying our country.” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly echoed this sentiment, accusing “activist judges” of subverting the administration’s agenda.
Critics of the shutdown hailed the ruling as a vital check on executive overreach. Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund and a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, described it as “an important victory against Elon Musk and his DOGE attack on USAID, the U.S. government, and the Constitution.” However, some skeptics noted that the decision might have limited long-term impact, as much of USAID’s workforce and contracts have already been significantly reduced in recent weeks.
The controversy has also drawn attention to Musk’s outsized influence within the administration. Public statements from Musk, including claims on X where he took credit for USAID’s closure, were cited by Chuang as evidence of his direct involvement. Musk responded to the ruling on the platform, suggesting it was a “partisan” move by a Democrat-appointed judge, writing, “indeed.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the injunction provides temporary relief to USAID employees and contractors, many of whom had been cut off from critical systems and left in limbo. The ruling does not mandate the reinstatement of previously terminated staff but seeks to maintain the agency’s remaining operations while the court deliberates further.
The White House has indicated it will expedite an appeal, potentially to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown over the balance of power between the executive branch and the judiciary. For now, Judge Chuang’s decision stands as a bold assertion of judicial oversight, with ramifications that could ripple across the administration’s broader cost-cutting initiatives.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
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