White House Vows Appeal as Judge Targets Musk’s Role in USAID Shutdown
In a contentious legal ruling on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, an Obama appointee, declared that the Trump administration’s rapid shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) likely violated the United States Constitution. The decision, which orders a partial restoration of the agency’s operations, has triggered a fierce response from the White House and President Donald Trump, who vowed to appeal, while amplifying debates over executive power, judicial oversight, and Elon Musk’s role in government efficiency efforts.
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The Ruling: A Constitutional Challenge
Judge Chuang’s nearly 70-page ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by USAID employees and contractors challenging the agency’s dismantling, led by Musk and the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The judge found that the shutdown—particularly the closure of USAID headquarters without approval from a Senate-confirmed official—“likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.” Central to his decision was Musk’s prominent yet unofficial role at DOGE, which Chuang argued contravened the Appointments Clause by granting significant authority to an unelected figure.
The injunction mandates the restoration of email and computer access for USAID employees, including those on administrative leave, and bars Musk and DOGE from further actions against the agency without proper authorization. While not a full reversal of the layoffs, the ruling poses a significant obstacle to the administration’s aggressive cost-cutting agenda.
White House and Trump Strike Back
The White House swiftly condemned the decision. “Rogue judges are subverting the will of the American people in their attempts to stop President Trump from carrying out his agenda,” spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement Tuesday. “If these judges want to force their partisan ideologies across the government, they should run for office themselves.” The remarks cast the ruling as an overreach by an activist judiciary.
Later last evening, President Trump escalated the criticism in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “We’ll be appealing it…, I guarantee you, we will be appealing it,” Trump declared. “We have rogue judges that are destroying our country.”
Musk’s Role Under Scrutiny
Chuang’s decision hinges heavily on Musk’s involvement with DOGE, which the judge cited as a constitutional irregularity. In his ruling, he pointed to multiple public statements by Trump and Musk—such as Trump’s claim that “Elon’s running the show at DOGE” and Musk’s own X posts about “feeding USAID into the wood chipper”—as evidence of Musk’s leadership. This clashed with the administration’s courtroom argument that another official was in charge and that Musk was merely a White House adviser, not a DOGE employee. Chuang rejected this defense, noting the inconsistency undermined the government’s position.
Legal scholars see this focus as a landmark challenge to Musk’s influence. “The judge is saying you can’t have an unappointed billionaire effectively running a federal office,” said Norm Eisen, executive chair of the States United Democracy Center. “It’s a direct rebuke of the administration’s reliance on Musk’s star power over constitutional process.”
Context: USAID and DOGE’s Mission
USAID, established in 1961, has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign aid but in recent years has been funding far-left extreme initiatives around the world. In early 2025, DOGE moved to dismantle it, recalling overseas staff, shuttering headquarters, and transferring duties to other departments. The effort aligned with Trump’s pledge to slash federal spending, but critics argue it bypassed Congress, which holds authority over agency budgets and structures.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk weighed in on X, calling the ruling proof that “the only two clauses of the left’s constitution” are open borders and foreign spending. His post gained traction among supporters who view USAID as wasteful. Recent polls indicate 76% of Americans approve of what Musk and the Trump administration are doing.
What’s at Stake?
The ruling’s immediate effect is limited—USAID employees regain system access, but the agency’s fate remains uncertain. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acting as USAID head, has already canceled 83% of its contracts, suggesting the administration may pivot to legal channels to continue cuts. An appeal, as Trump promised, could escalate the case to higher courts, potentially the Supreme Court, given its constitutional implications.
At ThriveNews.co, we’ll keep you updated as this legal and political saga unfolds, cutting through the noise with clear, balanced reporting.
