BREAKING: Appeals Court Deals Blow to USAID Shutdown—Extends DOGE Stay in High-Stakes Legal Showdown

Washington, D.C. — In a dramatic legal twist, a federal appeals court on Friday handed the Trump administration a key victory, allowing its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue operations within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, extends an emergency stay, freezing a lower court’s order that had temporarily barred DOGE from functioning inside USAID and ousted biotech executive Jeremy Levin from his leadership role.

A Constitutional Clash & Political Firestorm

The high-stakes legal battle erupted after 26 unnamed USAID employees and contractors sued, alleging the Trump administration illegally dismantled the agency—canceling contracts, purging staff, and even taking down its website—under the direction of Elon Musk, who they claim was never lawfully appointed to oversee DOGE.

“This was a brazen power grab,” one former USAID staffer told Fox News Digital, fighting back tears after being escorted out of headquarters with boxes in hand. “They fired me illegally.”

But the Trump administration fired back, arguing that Musk was acting as a senior advisor, not an administrator, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio lawfully designated leadership. They insisted the restructuring was within presidential authority to streamline foreign policy operations.

Judicial Whiplash

Last week, a Maryland federal judge sided with the employees, declaring DOGE’s actions “likely unconstitutional” and ordering USAID’s immediate reinstatement. But on Tuesday, the appeals court hit pause, granting a temporary stay—and Friday’s ruling extended that freeze pending a full appeal.

Judges Arthur Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. and Paul V. Niemeyer concluded that the Trump administration had a “strong likelihood” of winning its appeal and that blocking DOGE now would cause “irreparable harm.”

Protesters, Purges, and Political Hysteria

Outside federal buildings, anti-DOGE protesters have rallied for weeks, waving signs like “Hands Off USAID” and “Stop the Purge.” Meanwhile, the White House has dismissed concerns over deleted documents as “hysteria.”

“This isn’t just about jobs—it’s about whether the executive branch can unilaterally dismantle an entire agency,” said a lawyer for the plaintiffs.