Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Bid to Freeze Foreign Aid

[special]

Foreign aid ruling: The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s emergency request to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid on Wednesday morning, saying a lower court judge “should clarify what obligations the government must fulfill.” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in a 5-4 vote. The case focuses on the U.S. Agency for International Development and aid the administration halted on Mr. Trump’s first day in office.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/05/...=url-share

[pdq]

Beyond that, freezing military aid to Ukraine is exactly what Trump was impeached for last time around, because it’s illegal/unconstitutional - only Congress can deallocate, IIRC, and the “impoundment” theory that wingnuts applaud (but only when their party holds the WH) was outlawed by Congress in 1974.

Last time, Trump backed down and turned over the appropriated monies. He shouldn’t be able to get away with it this time either, no matter how in hock he is to Putin.

[pdq]

BTW, what if Trump ignores the SCOTUS and won’t release the funds?

I’ll take “Constitutional crisis” for $2 billion, Alex.

[Michael]

pdq wrote:
BTW, what if Trump ignores the SCOTUS and won’t release the funds?

I’ll take “Constitutional crisis” for $2 billion, Alex.

OR, if the administrator (I presume a temporary placed by Trump) of USAID cuts individual projects and doesn't spend all the money. I thought that unspent funds go back.

[Lemon Drop]

I don't think Treasury Sec wants to go to jail for contempt of court. He'll do what SCOTUS says.

[cbelt3]

Lemon Drop wrote:
I don't think Treasury Sec wants to go to jail for contempt of court. He'll do what SCOTUS says.

He won’t care. Any official with any sense of law is being fired and replaced with a toady.

If we get out of this, they are going to have to build a big prison to house all the traitors. Musk can pay for it.

[Acer]

Four justices ready and willing to tear up the Constitution to fit their political philosophy. Or score a few more options on their next Winnebago.

[Speedy]

Acer wrote:
Four justices ready and willing to tear up the Constitution to fit their political philosophy. Or score a few more options on their next Winnebago.

This^ This is the saddest part of the ruling.

[pdq]

Michael wrote:
[quote=pdq]
BTW, what if Trump ignores the SCOTUS and won’t release the funds?

I’ll take “Constitutional crisis” for $2 billion, Alex.

OR, if the administrator (I presume a temporary placed by Trump) of USAID cuts individual projects and doesn't spend all the money. I thought that unspent funds go back.
This payment is for work already done.

Who should we stiff?

[jonny]

pdq wrote:
[quote=Michael]
[quote=pdq]
BTW, what if Trump ignores the SCOTUS and won’t release the funds?

I’ll take “Constitutional crisis” for $2 billion, Alex.

OR, if the administrator (I presume a temporary placed by Trump) of USAID cuts individual projects and doesn't spend all the money. I thought that unspent funds go back.
This payment is for work already done.

Who should we stiff?
Even more depressingly, it says nothing about future funding.