- Federal judge indefinitely halts DOGE's dismantling of USAID, citing constitutional concerns
- Ruling mandates restored access for employees but doesn’t reverse layoffs or contracts
- Administration claims efficiency reforms; critics warn of global humanitarian fallout
A federal judge in Maryland delivered a landmark rebuke to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday, declaring its aggressive dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) likely violates constitutional separation of powers. The preliminary injunction blocks further personnel cuts or operational changes while litigation proceeds, marking the first judicial recognition of Musk’s direct control over federal restructuring efforts.
Judge Theodore Chuang’s 43-page opinion systematically dismantles DOGE’s central defense, noting Musk’s public boast about having “fed USAID into the wood chipper” contradicted claims he merely advises President Trump. The court found that DOGE’s actions – including terminating over 80% of program contracts and removing senior security personnel – effectively neutralized an agency Congress created in 1961. Legal experts suggest this creates a dangerous precedent for unelected officials to circumvent legislative oversight.
The ruling carries immediate practical consequences, requiring restored email access for remaining USAID staff and halting forced administrative leaves. However, it stops short of reversing the 1,200+ layoffs implemented since February or reinstating canceled initiatives like maternal health programs in Nigeria, where clinics report 40% supply shortages since the funding freeze. Oxfam America warns these cuts could lead to 12,000 preventable child deaths monthly across West Africa.
Constitutional scholars highlight the decision’s emphasis on the Appointments Clause, which requires Senate-confirmed officials to lead major federal actions. By empowering Musk – a private citizen – to direct agency closures, the administration created what the judge called “a shadow government structure.” This legal theory could affect pending challenges to DOGE’s reforms at the EPA and Department of Education.
While the White House maintains its actions root out bureaucratic waste, internal DOGE documents obtained by the State Democracy Defenders Fund reveal only 0.3% of audited USAID programs showed irregularities. The agency’s former Chief Financial Officer notes that foreign aid constitutes just 1.2% of the federal budget, undermining claims of significant fiscal savings.
As the case advances toward likely Supreme Court review, humanitarian groups emphasize the human toll. In Bangladesh, 94 flood early-warning systems funded by USAID have gone offline, leaving 8 million coastal residents vulnerable to monsoon disasters. Legal analysts predict at least 18 months before full operational restoration – if courts ultimately side against DOGE.