Judge Orders Musk to Claw Back USAID Dismantling After Ruling He Likely Violated US Constitution in 'Multiple Ways'

A federal judge ordered Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reinstate most of USAID's operations on Tuesday, saying that the decision to gut the agency "likely violated the U.S. Constitution in multiple ways."

Concretely, Maryland District Judge Theodore D. Chuang said the actions "harmed not only Plaintiffs, but also the public interest, because they deprived the public's elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency created by Congress."

Chuang also directed Musk and DOGE to refrain from taking any "action, or engage in any work, relating to the shutdown of USAID, defined for present purposes as: placement of employees on administrative leave, reductions-in-force, employee terminations, or contract terminations relating to any USAID employees or PSC's," among others.

"Defendants shall not take any other actions relating to USAID without the express authorization of a USAID official with legal authority to take or approve the action," the ruling added.

The Trump administration put USAID under the spotlight as part of its cost-cutting crusade, quickly shutting its headquarters and announcing the end of most of its programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced earlier this month that 80% of its contracts would be cancelled, arguing they "spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States."

"In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department," Rubio added.

The ruling is set to escalate the administration's clash with the judicial system, as Trump and several other top officials have been heavily critical or decisions going against their wishes.

Also on Tuesday a Republican lawmaker introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. district judge James Boasberg, who the Trump administration has been targeting after issuing orders to block the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador and set a deadline for the government to provide more information on the matter.

Concretely, Rep. Brandon Gill said on Tuesday he introduced the articles against "radical activist Judge James Boasberg," adding that he "is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office."

Donald Trump had also called for Boasberg's impeachment, leading Chief Justice John Roberts to issue a rare rebuke of criticism against the judiciary. "Ror more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," Roberts said in a statement. "The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," he added.