Judge Issues Ruling On USAID Case
The battle over the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has taken a dramatic turn, with U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang stepping in to block deep budget cuts imposed by the Trump administration. The ruling has reignited debates over executive power, government waste, and the political leanings of the judiciary.
Judge Chuang, a longtime Democratic activist with a history of left-wing affiliations, ruled that the cuts—ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after an extensive review—were likely unconstitutional.
His decision, issued Tuesday, placed a preliminary injunction on the Trump administration’s move to slash USAID funding by 83%. According to Chuang, eliminating such a large portion of the agency’s budget effectively dismantled its core functions, something he argued could only be done through an act of Congress.
The ruling has been met with sharp criticism from conservatives, who point out that USAID was originally created through an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy. This, they argue, gives the sitting president significant authority over the agency, unlike departments established by Congress.
Moreover, the cuts came after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered rampant waste within USAID, including funding for left-wing organizations with deep ties to the Democratic Party.
🚨🔥KAROLINE LEAVITT: “This judge is a Democrat activist.”
pic.twitter.com/vpTWlDjWjk— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 19, 2025
Chuang’s background raises questions about judicial impartiality. Appointed to the bench in 2014 by President Barack Obama, Chuang shares a strikingly similar trajectory to his nominator—both attended Harvard Law School and worked on the Harvard Law Review, which under their tenure showed an interest in Critical Race Theory.
Chuang also actively supported Democratic candidates, donated thousands to their campaigns, and served in leadership roles for Democratic organizations in Maryland.
This is not the first time Chuang has intervened against the Trump administration. In 2017, he blocked the president’s so-called “travel ban,” though the Supreme Court later upheld a revised version of the policy. Now, with his ruling against USAID cuts, critics expect another high-stakes legal battle that could ultimately land before the nation’s highest court.