A federal judge has stopped President Donald Trump from putting thousands of employees on paid leave at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The notice came Friday from U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, the day that the Trump Administration had set for essentially dismantling much of the rogue agency by midnight.
The judge gave no rationale for overriding the president but said he would issue a written ruling later.
USAID has been exposed as an agency that is doling out money to terrorists and domestic violent groups that riot when Republicans are governing.
USAID funds propaganda for LGBTQ ideology and other focuses about which many Americans have been shocked to learn. Among the funding recipients are:
$7.9 million to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid “binary-gendered language”
$4.5 million or more to “combat disinformation” in Kazakhstan
$1.5 million for “art for inclusion of people with disabilities”
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to “transform digital spaces to reflect feminist democratic principles”
$2.1 million to help the BBC “value the diversity of Libyan society”
$2.5 million to promote “inclusion” in Vietnam
$16.8 million for a separate “inclusion” group in Vietnam
$5 million to EcoHealth Alliance, one of the top NGOs funding bat virus research at the Wuhan lab
$20 million for a group related to a key player in the Russiagate impeachment hoax
$1.1 million to an Armenian LGBT group
$1.2 million to help the African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency build a state of the art 440-seat auditorium in Washington, D.C.
$1.3 million to Arab and Jewish photographers
$1.5 million to promote LGBT advocacy in Jamaica
The Trump order would have let 2,200 USAID worker stay home and get paid for not working. Federal employees receive full pay while on administrative leave, which is an authorized absence from work that doesn’t count against an employee’s leave balance.
As of 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, the USAID website still contained this notice:
“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).
“For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.
“Thank you for your service.
“FAQs
“1. If I am posted overseas and placed on administrative leave, am I required to return to the United States within the next 30 days?
“No. While USAID and the Department of State are preparing a plan under which USAID personnel posted overseas would be offered optional and fully reimbursed return travel to the United States within 30 days, personnel are not required to accept Agency-sponsored travel or to return to the United States within any specific deadline. Overseas USAID personnel retain the option to remain at their posts, even while placed on administrative leave and not working. Beyond 30 days, however, Agency funded and arranged return travel may not be available unless an individualized exception is sought and granted.”
The administrative state must go. Career bureaucrats and their legacy pet projects must go. The deep state must go. The swamp must go. Get it done Trump Administration. Return liberty and freedom to the citizens of this great nation. When democracy and democratic socialism dies, liberty prevails.
This blackrobe is a liar and Trump should just move ahead. An agency created by executive order can be shut down by executive order. And let’s not forget Reagon fired thousands of ATC’s when they refused to go back to work.
Nichols righteousness is now most certainly in question.
Trump should just ignore the (radical leftist activist) judge!
Hey, it worked for the usurper just fine — what’s good for the demented globalist goose is good for the orange anti-globalist gander.
Time to get rid of a judge. Apparently everyone at usaid is corrupt. Isn’t it curious if you leave an executive in office to long 90% of the time they will become corrupt. That’s a fact. Time for term limits and let’s make a few examples of what you should not do in positions of power.
Judge Carl Nichols should be investigated,
USAID started by JFK by executive order. It can be eliminated by executive order. Shut it down Mr President!!
That liberal judge will be nothing more than a speed bump within a few days.
Biden ignored the courts. Even the US Supreme Court. Many times. I’m doubting that Trump will stoop that low. This will shake out and USAID will disbanded. There is, and should not be, guaranteed employment for government workers, just as there is no guaranteed employment for the people who pay their salaries.
The judge is likely concerned about “process” as Lisa always talks about. That said, the authority to run the government rests with the President of the United States. It may take some time but the USAID reptiles will need to find honest employment.
Burn it all down