Judge Dismisses 2 Lawsuits Intended To Block Dismantling Of USAID

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed two lawsuits on Friday aimed at blocking the Trump administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), delivering a major legal win for the White House in its broader effort to consolidate foreign aid operations under the State Department.

In a 37-page opinion, United States District Judge Carl Nichols, an appointee of President Donald Trump, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over key claims brought by organizations representing USAID employees and contractors, including the American Foreign Service Association, American Federation of Government Employees, and the Personal Services Contractor Association.

“The Court ultimately cannot reach the merits of any plaintiff’s allegations, however, because it concludes that it lacks jurisdiction over the claims,” Nichols wrote.

The plaintiffs—including employee unions, contractor groups, and humanitarian organizations—argued that the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle USAID violated the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and statutory limits on executive power. They alleged the administration acted unlawfully by halting aid programs, placing thousands of employees and contractors on leave, and moving to absorb USAID into the State Department without proper authorization.

Nichols, however, found that employee-related claims must be funneled through specific administrative review systems set by Congress — such as the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Foreign Service Grievance Board, or the Foreign Labor Relations Authority — while outside advocacy groups such as Oxfam failed to establish standing to sue. He also rejected requests for a preliminary injunction, noting that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate irreparable harm.