Goodbye to DOGE cuts? Federal judge blocks Elon Musk’s department from reforming USAID

A Maryland U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the “shutdown of USAID on an accelerated basis” under the Trump administration “likely violated the U.S. Constitution in multiple ways."

Judge Theodore Chuang cited one potential constitutional violation: the closure of the aid agency’s headquarters without approval from a duly appointed USAID officer. This, he noted, suggests that an agency created by Congress was effectively shut down without legislative input.

Elon Musk is named as a defendant in the case, accused of acting as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) based on public comments by President Trump. In court, the administration has been unable to identify who was officially in charge of DOGE during the period when USAID staff were laid off. Citing this issue, Judge Chuang ordered DOGE employees to "reinstate access to email, payments, security notifications, and other electronic systems for current USAID employees, including the restoration of deleted emails."

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D), made a post on X about the ruling, and committed to continuing to fight for the “rule of law,” but it remains unclear what powers Democrats in Congress have to force the administration to comply with the Court’s order.

Changes made at USAID since Judge Chuang‘s order

Though the court ruling was released Tuesday, the administration has yet to comply with the order. On Wednesday, however, the State Department announced that Pete Marocco will now serve full-time as the director of foreign assistance, according to department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Marocco had previously served as deputy administrator-designate at USAID after being appointed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.