A federal court has halted the controversial dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), declaring the abrupt closure “legally indefensible.” Judge Theodore D. Chuang ruled Tuesday that DOGE’s actions likely breached constitutional protocols, demanding the agency’s full operational restoration.
The court directive requires DOGE to reactivate USAID’s critical systems—such as email, payroll, and security networks—within seven days. Chuang also mandated a binding plan to return USAID to its original headquarters if the plaintiffs succeed in final litigation, emphasizing DOGE’s “unauthorized haste” in shuttering the agency. The judge barred Musk and DOGE from further interference without explicit approval from USAID’s legally authorized officials, citing a pattern of overreach.
Former President Donald Trump denounced the decision as “judicial activism,” vowing to challenge it on appeal. Musk, responding on social media, insinuated political bias, pointing to Chuang’s Democratic appointment. Legal analysts highlight the ruling’s broader implications for limiting private-sector encroachment on federal operations.