Federal Judge Halts Elon Musk’s Shutdown of USAID, Citing Constitutional Violations

By IndraStra Global News Team

Cover Image Attribute: AP Photo / J. David Ake

On March 18, 2025, a federal judge issued a ruling that has thrown a significant wrench into President Donald Trump’s aggressive cost-cutting agenda, specifically targeting the actions of his ally, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Maryland District Court Judge Theodore Chuang ordered an immediate halt to the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), declaring that the efforts led by Musk and DOGE “likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.” This decision marks a notable legal setback for the Trump administration, which has been pushing forward with plans to slash federal spending and jobs since Trump re-entered the White House in January.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by current and former USAID employees and contractors, who challenged the legal authority of Musk, a billionaire tapped by Trump to oversee drastic reductions in government operations. The plaintiffs argued that under the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Musk needed to be confirmed by the Senate to wield such extensive power over federal agencies. Judge Chuang sided with their contention, stating that allowing Musk to continue exercising “enormous power over the government would open the door to an end-run around the Appointments Clause” and reduce it to “nothing more than a technical formality.” This finding underscores a central issue in the case: Musk’s role, while described by him and DOGE as advisory only, has involved direct control over USAID, a move the judge deemed unconstitutional.
USAID, an agency established by Congress in 1961 to distribute humanitarian aid globally, has been a primary target of Trump’s cost-cutting measures. Following an executive order signed by Trump in January that imposed a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, Musk and DOGE moved swiftly to dismantle the agency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that the United States was cancelling 83 percent of USAID’s programs, which span health and emergency initiatives in approximately 120 countries. Most of the agency’s workforce has been placed on leave or fired since January, leaving only a skeleton crew in place. Rubio, who claimed on February 3 to have assumed control of USAID, stated on social media, “Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform,” as he directed cuts under his own authority.
However, Judge Chuang’s ruling asserts that these actions overstepped congressional authority. He emphasized that Congress, not Musk or DOGE, holds the power to decide when and how to close down USAID. The judge pointed out that Musk and DOGE’s rapid dismantlement of the agency “violated the authority of Congress” and harmed not only the plaintiffs but also “the public interest.” In a complaint filed on February 13, lawyers for 26 unnamed USAID employees described Musk’s approach as “a predictable and reckless slash-and-burn pattern,” arguing that his power was illegitimate without Senate confirmation. Chuang agreed, noting that Musk’s assertion of control over executive agencies likely breached the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.
As part of his ruling, Judge Chuang ordered immediate steps to partially restore USAID’s operations, though he acknowledged that such relief might be temporary. He mandated that DOGE reinstate access to email and other electronic systems, including computer and payment systems, for current USAID employees and contractors, even those previously placed on leave. Additionally, he directed that the agency be allowed to reoccupy its Washington headquarters unless an authorized official, such as the acting administrator of USAID, confirms within 14 days that the building is being permanently closed. Chuang also barred Musk and his team from engaging in “any further work related to the shutdown of U.S.A.I.D.” without “the express authorization of a U.S.A.I.D. official with legal authority to take or approve the action.” However, with more than 80 percent of USAID’s activities already halted, according to administration officials, the practical impact of the ruling remains uncertain.
The Trump administration swiftly criticized the decision, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly calling it a “miscarriage of justice” and accusing “rogue judges” of “subverting the will of the American people in their attempts to stop President Trump from carrying out his agenda.” The administration has vowed to appeal the ruling, signaling a continued legal battle over Musk’s role and the broader cost-cutting initiative. This is not the first judicial roadblock Trump has faced recently; another federal judge ordered the rehiring of thousands of probationary workers across multiple agencies who had been fired by DOGE, and on Monday, a separate judge halted the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, prompting Trump to call for that judge’s impeachment.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, which represented the USAID employees, hailed the ruling as “a milestone in pushing back on Musk and DOGE’s illegality.” He criticized their approach, stating, “They are performing surgery with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel, harming not just the people USAID serves but the majority of Americans who count on the stability of our government.” Eisen’s remarks reflect a broader concern among critics that the rapid dismantling of agencies like USAID undermines both domestic governance and international aid efforts.
The ruling appears to be a historic moment, marking “the first time a federal judge has acted to constrain Elon Musk,” a top adviser to Trump, as noted in court observations. While Musk and DOGE argued in court documents that his role was advisory, Judge Chuang’s findings painted a different picture, highlighting Musk’s direct influence over USAID’s fate. The judge noted that Rubio had effectively “surrendered control over the agency’s operations to Mr. Musk,” resulting in what amounted to the agency’s elimination. Rubio’s announcement that the State Department would administer the roughly 1,000 remaining grants and contracts further complicates the situation, as it remains unclear how the agency can function with a decimated workforce and infrastructure.
For now, the legal wrangling continues, with the administration facing mounting challenges to its agenda. The USAID case highlights a critical tension between executive authority and constitutional checks, with Musk’s unprecedented role at the center of the controversy. As the appeals process looms, the fate of USAID—and the broader scope of Trump’s government efficiency drive—hangs in the balance, leaving employees, contractors, and the public watching closely for what comes next.

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