A U.S. judge on Friday said he would pause plans to place 2,200 U.S. Agency for International Development employees on leave, as part of a temporary “limited” order blocking the Trump administration from taking some steps to dismantle the agency.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, who was nominated by President Donald Trump during his first term, announced the decision at a hearing on a lawsuit from the largest U.S. government workers’ union and an association of foreign service workers, who sued to stop the administration’s efforts to close the agency.
Nichols said the written ruling would be issued later on Friday. He did not seem inclined to grant other requests from the unions to reopen USAID buildings and restore funding for agency grants and contracts.
The administration in a notice sent to the foreign aid agency’s workers on Thursday said it will keep 611 essential workers on board at USAID out of a worldwide workforce that totals more than 10,000.
The major reduction in force, as well as the closure of offices, the forced relocation of these individuals were all done in excess of the executive’s authority in violation of the separation of powers,” Karla Gilbride, a lawyer for the unions, said at the hearing.
A Justice Department official, Brett Shumate, told Nichols that about 2,200 USAID employees would be put on paid leave under the administration’s plans, adding that 500 had already been placed on leave.