USAID Dismantling Unconstitutional, Judge Rules

The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) likely violated the Constitution, a federal judge ruled, as he indefinitely blocked DOGE from making further cuts to the agency, Sara Naffa reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The lawsuit was filed by USAID employees and contractors. I Photo: USAID Facebook

The order requires the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those placed on administrative leave. However, it stops short of reversing firings or fully resurrecting the agency.

The lawsuit, filed by USAID employees and contractors, argued that Musk and DOGE are exercising powers reserved by the Constitution for elected or Senate-confirmed officials.

In one of the first DOGE-related lawsuits against Musk himself, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland rejected the Trump administration’s argument that Musk is merely an adviser to President Donald Trump.

The judge cited Musk’s public statements and social media posts, which demonstrate that he has "firm control over DOGE." He pointed to an online post where Musk boasted that he had "fed USAID into the woodchipper."