U.S. Leader Donald Trump has requested the intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court in a legal dispute concerning billions of dollars in foreign aid funding that his administration is attempting to prevent from being utilized.
In an emergency appeal submitted on Tuesday, the Trump administration cautioned that if the justices do not act by next week, a ruling from a lower court will compel the government to release around $12 billion in foreign aid. This action, they argue, could lead to "irreparable diplomatic costs" and undermine the administration's foreign policy decisions.
The conflict arises from the cuts the Trump administration aimed to implement on funding that Congress had previously approved for global health and HIV/AIDS initiatives. A district court mandated the disbursement of these funds, despite an earlier decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which stated that only Congress—not nonprofit organizations—holds the legal power to contest such funding alterations.
While the appeals court ruling was in favor of Trump, the entire DC Circuit is still examining the case. In the meantime, the district court's order remains in effect, prompting the administration to urgently seek intervention from the Supreme Court.
In its submission, the Justice Department contended that the district court has effectively positioned itself as the overseer of further spending and rescission proposals, forcing the government to allocate billions by September 30.
The administration has asked the Supreme Court to block the ruling by September 2 to avert what it describes as irreversible damage to U.S. foreign policy.
This is not the first occasion this dispute has reached the Supreme Court.
In March, the Court narrowly opted not to halt the funds while litigation was ongoing, permitting the case to advance in lower courts.