The Smartest Investors Club
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • World

The Smartest Investors Club

Politics

Conservative justices ‘stunned’ by Supreme Court’s USAID decision, lambaste majority in scathing dissent

by March 5, 2025
March 5, 2025

Four conservative Supreme Court justices penned a blistering dissent Wednesday after the court majority rejected the Trump administration’s request to continue a temporary freeze on foreign aid payments. 

​​Justice Samuel Alito excoriated the high court majority for allowing a lower court judge to single-handedly determine the timeline for the Trump administration to pay nearly $2 million in payments for previously completed foreign aid projects – an order he called ‘too extreme.’ 

In a scathing eight-page dissent, Alito called the decision an ‘unfortunate misstep’ and one he said ‘rewards an act of judicial hubris’ by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali.

‘Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars? The answer to that question should be an emphatic ‘No,’ but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise,’ Alito wrote.

‘I am stunned.’

He was joined in the dissent by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. 

While Alito and the other dissenting justices acknowledged Wednesday that the plaintiffs raised ‘serious concerns about nonpayment’ for their completed work, they argued that Ali’s repayment order and time frame was ‘too extreme,’ as it gave the administration just two weeks to comply.

‘The District Court has made plain its frustration with the Government, and respondents raise serious concerns about nonpayment for completed work,’ they said in their dissent. ‘But the relief ordered is, quite simply, too extreme a response.’

The 5-4 Supreme Court decision remands the case back to the D.C. federal court – and Judge Ali – to hash out the specifics of what must be paid, and when.

At issue in the case was how quickly the Trump administration needed to pay the nearly $2 billion owed to aid groups and contractors for completed projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), at a time when the administration has issued a blanket freeze on all foreign spending in the name of government ‘efficiency’ and eliminating waste.

The funds had been frozen as part of the administration’s block on all foreign aid, prompting international groups and contractors to file a lawsuit last month, prompting the Trump administration to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice John Roberts intervened, agreeing to pause the timeline to allow the full court to consider the case.

Acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that while the plaintiffs’ claims were likely ‘legitimate,’ the time set by Ali was ‘impossible’ and ‘not logistically or technically feasible.’

Ali, for his part, moved quickly Wednesday to take action on the unpaid foreign aid case – setting a new court hearing Thursday afternoon to consider the matter.

In a minute order, the court said lawyers for both parties should come prepared to discuss a proposed schedule for the Trump administration to comply with the outstanding payments.

Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Joe Mazumdar: Gold Stocks Facing Pent-Up M&A as Price Disconnect Continues
next post
Ukraine wants security guarantees from the US and Europe. But will anyone step up?

You may also like

‘Flooding the zone’: Trump hits warp speed in...

House lawmakers leave DC until September with government...

Biden targeted in GOP resolution condemning ‘garbage’ remark...

After Michigan primary, Democrats watch for Biden to...

House, Senate release bipartisan agreement on government funding...

Hunter Biden sought State Department assistance for foreign...

Harris says what she’s doing is ‘not new,’...

Pete Hegseth says he had ‘substantive conversation’ with...

Leaked images show Biden admin’s planned ICE ID...

Duffy confirmation hearing marked by bipartisanship, pledge to...

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • How Rotimi and Vanessa Mdee’s chance romance became a deep dive into...

    • 14,000 troops, 100 ballistic missiles and millions of munitions: What North Korea has sent to Russia, report finds

    • Dreams cut short, Chinese students anxious and angry over ‘aggressive’ US visa ban plans

    • Trump’s Nuclear Revival Plan Boosts Uranium Prices, Sends US Miners Soaring

    • China snubs Asia’s largest defense forum as tensions with US simmer

    Categories

    • Business (1,671)
    • Investing (4,988)
    • Politics (7,825)
    • World (6,336)
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • About us

    Disclaimer: thesmartestinvestorsclub.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 thesmartestinvestorsclub.com | All Rights Reserved


    Back To Top