A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze funding for a key foreign aid program, ruling that the White House had overstepped its authority and put itself “above Congress.”
The program in question is the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, which provides training and education to foreign military personnel. The Trump administration had sought to freeze $200 million in funding for the program as part of its efforts to pressure countries like Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden.
In his ruling, Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said that the White House’s actions were a violation of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government. He noted that Congress had appropriated the funds for the IMET program and that the administration had no legal authority to withhold them.
“The President’s stated reason for impounding the funds – to gain leverage over a foreign country in order to achieve a policy goal of the President – is unconstitutional,” Judge Nichols wrote in his opinion.
The ruling is a major blow to the Trump administration’s efforts to use foreign aid as a political tool. It also represents a rebuke of the president’s tendency to bypass Congress and govern through executive orders and unilateral actions.
Critics of the administration hailed the judge’s decision as a victory for the rule of law and the separation of powers.
“This ruling reaffirms that the president is not above the law and cannot simply ignore the will of Congress,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Trump administration has not yet announced whether it will appeal the ruling. In the meantime, the funding for the IMET program will be allowed to proceed as planned.
Overall, the judge’s decision represents a significant check on the power of the executive branch and a reminder that the president must operate within the confines of the Constitution. It also sends a clear message that attempts to use foreign aid for political gain will not be tolerated.
