Judge orders Trump administration to resume foreign aid

KABUL (Pajhwok): A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding for hundreds of foreign aid contractors, who said they were adversely affected by a 90-day blanket freeze, according to a media report.

The ruling temporarily blocks the administration from canceling foreign aid contracts and awards that were in place before Trump took office on January 20, Reuters reported.

US District Judge Amir Ali explained that the purpose of suspending foreign aid was to review programs for efficiency and alignment with priorities.

However, he stated: "At least to date, defendants have not offered any explanation for why a blanket suspension of all congressionally appropriated foreign aid, which caused significant disruption to thousands of agreements with businesses, nonprofits, and organizations, was a rational precursor to reviewing programs."

This was the first ruling to reverse Trump’s freeze on foreign aid funding. The decision followed a lawsuit filed by two health organizations that rely on US funding for overseas programs.

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