Federal Judge Rules Musk and DOGE Likely Violated Constitution in USAID Shutdown

A preliminary injunction blocks further dismantling of USAID, citing constitutional violations and requiring restoration of access for employees and contractors.

• Judge Theodore Chuang issued a preliminary injunction halting further actions to dismantle USAID and ordered the restoration of access to email, payment systems, and other electronic resources for employees and contractors.
• The court found Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) likely violated the Constitution's Appointments Clause and separation of powers by exercising authority without Senate confirmation.
• The dismantling of USAID under Musk's direction resulted in the termination of 83% of contracts, a workforce reduction from over 10,000 to 611, and significant disruption to global foreign aid programs.
• The Trump administration plans to appeal the ruling, framing it as judicial overreach, while critics argue the actions undermined congressional authority and the public interest.
• USAID, established in 1961, has been effectively crippled, with its headquarters shuttered and many of its life-saving programs in over 120 countries halted or severely impacted.

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