Posted on 03/05/2025 12:27:25 PM PST by SoConPubbie
The Supreme Court has denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court ruling that forces the State Department to pay out $2 billion in foreign assistance, despite concerns that the order was legally dubious and that much of the money would be unrecoverable.
Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, dissented forcefully, warning that the ruling gives an unchecked district judge the power to compel massive taxpayer-funded payments with no higher court review.
”I am stunned,” Alito wrote, calling the lower court’s actions a “lawless order” that disregarded sovereign immunity and basic judicial restraint.
Additionally, the unsigned majority opinion provided no rationale for its decision, leaving the public in the dark about why the Court’s liberal wing, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, sided against Trump and his campaign pledge.
The ruling means the administration must now follow through on the massive payout, despite arguing that the funds, once disbursed, would likely be lost forever.
Alito’s dissent ripped into the Court’s unwillingness to intervene, arguing that the ruling effectively rewards judicial overreach and forces a rushed expenditure of taxpayer dollars with no proper oversight. He criticized the district judge for blocking an appeal and setting an arbitrary 36-hour deadline for payment, ensuring the money would be spent before any meaningful review could occur.
No explanation has been provided by the justices who declined to stop the order, leaving open questions about their legal reasoning and willingness to allow a single judge to dictate executive branch spending. The ruling comes amid growing concerns over judicial activism and the Supreme Court’s refusal to rein in rogue district courts.
Read the full dissent here.
If Trump another nominee and nominates a woman it should be opposed at all cost no matter how much we like Trump.
Simple screw job by Roberts. He is no conservative, an elitist, and he hates Trump.
I don’t think he will make that mistake again.
If Trump another nominee and nominates a woman it should be opposed at all cost no matter how much we like Trump.
“He won’t make the same mistake twice.” - Captain Ramius
Conehead and the Dread Pirate Roberts strike again.
Correct. Barrett lied to everyone.
Misguided “feelings” could be the death of us.
Meet Roberts and Barrett, the two newest “progressive” members of the Supreme Court.
Check his bank account
Send them the money one dollar at a time over years.
AT most, there should be no more than 2 women on the court. Making judgements based on “feelings” is gooning kill us...
“””AT most, there should be no more than 2 women on the court.”””
And since there is apparently no definition of a woman we might as well appoint only males. I expect President Trump will get at least two appointments. I expect he will put young, Christian males on the court.
Justice Alito, these are vile communists. What do you expect?
Be careful what you wish for Conservative Inc
If the Chief Executive can simply void payment on completed contracts from a previous administration, then there is nothing to stop future Alt Left President’s from doing the same thing on completed DOD contracts where the weapons have all ready been built and delivered
Problem is he’ll probably have to replace the two best justices. A Thomas replacement will almost certainly be a downgrade. The same is MOST LIKELY true for Alito
3 left
3 right
3 squish
Aileen Cannon would make a fine SCOTUS judge, but generally i agree with you
but there’s no explaination why REpublicans in Congress refuse to cut this stuff out of the budget. That’s where the blame lies. WE control congress, allegedly.
Trump really should defy the order: if he doesn’t a hundred Dem judges and attorneys will be assuming control and micromanaging every executive department.
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