Trump Administration Can Withhold Billions in Aid, Appeals Court Rules

The New York Times ^ | Aug. 13, 2025, 3:24 p.m. ET | Zach Montague

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A federal appeals court panel cleared the way on Wednesday for the Trump administration to continue refusing to spend billions of dollars in foreign aid, finding that aid organizations that had sued to recover the money lacked the legal right to bring the challenge.

The decision, which centered on President Trump’s authority to withhold funding already appropriated by Congress, handed the White House a significant legal victory. Since taking office, Mr. Trump and his advisers have consistently claimed expansive authority to freeze federal dollars allocated for projects they have endeavored to snuff out — an action known as impoundment that legal scholars and aid groups had considered to be strictly limited under federal law.

But by a 2-to-1 vote, the appeals court panel ruled that under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, only the Government Accountability Office, which serves as Congress's independent watchdog, could challenge the president’s efforts to withhold foreign aid funding. The panel found that groups that receive government funding — in this instance, a number of global health nonprofits — do not have cause to challenge Mr. Trump’s funding cuts.

The decision lifted a lower court’s order that had required the administration to continue processing foreign aid payments with funds Congress had budgeted.

In finding that the Trump administration had unlawfully delayed money Congress appropriated, a lower court previously required the government to make available all the foreign assistance funds Congress allocated for fiscal year 2024. That included nearly $4 billion to spend on global health activities until September, and more than $6 billion for H.I.V./AIDS programs through 2028.

Barring further action from the courts, the ruling gave the Trump administration leeway to slash the funds, cut the agencies that administer foreign assistance programs...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It's almost as if President Trump is the President!

[No name given]

More winning!

[BradyLS]

“Well, subonnavitch!” —Go Brandon

[mikey_hates_everything]

More fake foundations and aid organizations closing soon.

[Fungi]

My dad used to say “solamabitch.”

[Da Coyote]

I note that the NYT used the term “snuff out” when referring to the removal of the funds. Hopefully, we can use that very term in the near future when referring to the jokesters who have brought the formerly respected profession of journalism right down there to the level just below that of ‘Democrat politician’. (And datz looooooooow.)

[PubliusMM]

Winning!

[cowboyusa]

Good, NO MORE AID, LOANS ONLY!

[frogjerk]

MSM: “A divided court hands Trump a slim victory on a mid 20th Century law.”

[oldplayer]

But, it was just a panel and the decision was 2-1. If the Circuit decides to hear it en banc ti may go badly, and then off to the Supremes.

[aquila48]

You mean, laundromats.

[TexasFreeper2009]

8 months later with this ruling.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Good.

[ridesthemiles]

FORGET LOANS-—THEY NEVER GET PAID BACK.

ALL SMOKE & MIRRORS.

[GranTorino]

Hopefully kettering.org!

[mikey_hates_everything]

Hopefully kettering.org!

For sure. Bunch of commie parasites and their useless “conversations”.