US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday temporarily halted a federal judge’s order requiring President Donald Trump’s administration to pay foreign aid funds to contractors and grant recipients.

Roberts issued an interim order delaying Washington-based US District Judge Amir Ali’s ruling, which had imposed a deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. He provided no explanation for the stay, which allows the court time to consider the administration’s formal request to block Ali’s order.

Roberts has asked for a response from the plaintiffs—organisations contracting with or receiving grants from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department—by noon on Friday.

The decision came as Trump’s administration stated in a court filing on Wednesday that it had finalised decisions to terminate most US foreign aid contracts and grants, arguing that it could not meet Ali’s court-ordered deadline.

A State Department spokesperson said the administration is cutting over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and more than $58 billion in overall US assistance worldwide, calling the move part of Trump’s “America First agenda.”

Funding freeze sparks legal battle

The dispute arose from lawsuits filed by aid organisations, alleging that the agencies had illegally frozen all foreign aid payments.

The Trump administration has largely maintained the freeze despite Ali’s temporary restraining order on 13 February requiring the funds to be released, along with multiple subsequent compliance orders.

Government lawyers have argued that the administration has the right to suspend agreements while reviewing their alignment with policy. This review is now complete, the administration said, confirming USAID’s cancellation of nearly 5,800 awards while keeping over 500. The State Department has cancelled about 4,100 awards, retaining around 2,700.

An administration official stated in a court filing that grounds for termination included links to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts, or projects deemed wasteful.

Trump has taken a hard line against diversity-related initiatives, signing an executive order on his second day in office instructing federal agencies to dismantle DEI policies.

On Wednesday, the administration stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had ordered expedited payments for invoices related to work completed before 24 January, when the freeze began, bypassing standard vetting procedures in a bid to comply with Ali’s order. However, it said full payments could take weeks.

Humanitarian relief efforts in turmoil

Trump, a Republican, ordered a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid on his first day in office last month. This, along with subsequent stop-work orders, has disrupted global humanitarian relief efforts, delaying the delivery of food and medical aid.

USAID, which administers about 60% of US foreign assistance, disbursed $43.79 billion in fiscal year 2023. A Congressional Research Service report this month stated that its 10,000-strong workforce, two-thirds of whom serve overseas, assisted around 130 countries.

On Sunday, the administration placed all but senior and critical USAID staff on paid administrative leave and eliminated 1,600 positions. Employee unions have filed lawsuits challenging the cuts, though a judge last week allowed them to proceed.

Ali, appointed by Trump’s Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, issued his temporary restraining order to prevent what he called “irreparable harm” to the plaintiffs while reviewing their claims.

The plaintiffs argue that Trump has exceeded his legal authority by dismantling an independent agency and blocking spending approved by Congress. Some have warned they may shut down within days if payments are not made.

“The lengths that the government is willing to go to flout a court order, all for the goal of ending life-saving humanitarian assistance, is staggering,” said Allison Zieve, a lawyer representing two plaintiffs, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network.

Other plaintiffs include international development company DAI Global and refugee assistance organisation HIAS.

Both Ali and a Rhode Island federal judge in a separate case on a broader federal payment freeze have criticised the