Appeals Court Sides With Judge Ordering Trump to Release Billions in Frozen Foreign Aid

‘There is not a plausible interpretation of the statutes that would justify the billions of dollars they plan to withhold,’ wrote U.S. District Judge Amir Ali.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 5, 2025. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

WASHINGTON–The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Sept. 5 upheld a federal district judge’s ruling that found the Trump administration could not withhold billions of dollars in foreign assistance approved by Congress.

The appeals court said the administration had not “satisfied the stringent requirements” to pause a ruling pending an appeal. The ruling was a split decision, with Circuit Judge Justin Walker dissenting.