The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a federal judge’s authority to order the Trump administration to pay $2 billion to contractors of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) but stopped short of requiring immediate payment. The 5-4 decision rejected an emergency application filed by the Justice Department, which sought to block the order issued by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali.

Judge Ali had issued a series of rulings demanding the government release funds that President Donald Trump froze through an executive order targeting what he called wasteful foreign aid programs. While the Supreme Court’s decision is a temporary setback for the Trump administration, the nonprofit organizations and businesses awaiting payment remain in limbo. One organization recently laid off 110 employees due to the funding freeze, according to court documents.

Justice Samuel Alito, leading the dissenting conservative justices, criticized the ruling, calling it a reward for “an act of judicial hubris” and arguing that it imposes a $2 billion burden on American taxpayers. Alito contended that Judge Ali lacked the authority to mandate such payments.

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves in place Ali’s temporary restraining order, which had paused the spending freeze. Judge Ali is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday to consider a more permanent solution.

The majority opinion, supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett alongside the court’s three liberal justices, noted that the Trump administration had not challenged Ali’s initial order but only the deadline for compliance, which has already passed. The court instructed Ali to clarify the government’s obligations under the temporary restraining order, taking into account the feasibility of compliance timelines.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joined Alito in dissent.

The Trump administration argued that the situation had evolved since the initial freeze, as it replaced the blanket spending halt with individualized assessments. These assessments led to the cancellation of 5,800 USAID contracts and 4,100 State Department grants, totaling nearly $60 billion in aid.

The funding freeze was implemented following an executive order by President Trump, who criticized foreign aid programs as wasteful and misaligned with his foreign policy objectives. The subsequent lawsuit alleged that the freeze violated federal law and disrupted critical, life-saving programs abroad.

Judge Ali initially ordered the temporary restoration of funding on February 13. However, after nearly two weeks of non-compliance, he set a deadline for the government to release payments for work already completed. The administration appealed, calling Ali’s order “incredibly intrusive and profoundly erroneous” and objecting to the timeline for releasing the funds.

The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the ongoing tension between the judiciary and the executive branch over the administration’s foreign aid policies. While the ruling affirms the judiciary’s role in overseeing executive actions, the delay in payment leaves contractors and aid organizations grappling with financial uncertainty.

As the legal battle continues, the fate of billions of dollars in foreign aid remains unresolved, with significant implications for global humanitarian efforts and U.S. foreign policy.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam and Randhir Beniwal as its national coordinators. The decision comes after Anand Kumar, BSP national vice-president and Mayawati’s brother, expressed his desire to hold only one post at a time, stepping back from the additional responsibility of national coordinator.

Earlier, Mayawati had assigned Anand Kumar the role of national coordinator, a decision she announced on the social media platform X. However, Kumar later requested to focus on a single position, citing the interests of the party and its movement. His request was accepted by the BSP leadership.

“Keeping in mind the interests of the party and the movement, Anand Kumar, who has been selflessly serving the BSP for a long time, expressed his wish to work in only one post. His decision is welcome,” Mayawati wrote on X.

With Kumar stepping back from the role, Randhir Beniwal was appointed as the new national coordinator. Mayawati stated that Beniwal and Ramji Gautam would jointly serve as national coordinators, working directly under her guidance to oversee party responsibilities across various states.

“Now, Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Gautam and Randhir Beniwal will jointly serve as BSP’s national coordinators, working directly under my guidance to handle responsibilities in various states,” Mayawati announced. She expressed confidence that the newly appointed leaders would carry out their duties with “full honesty and dedication.”

This development follows Mayawati’s recent decision to remove her nephew, Akash Anand, from all party posts. Last week, the BSP chief declared that there would be no successor to her in the party as long as she is alive, emphasizing her continued leadership and control over the party’s direction.

The reshuffle in the BSP’s leadership structure reflects Mayawati’s efforts to streamline the party’s functioning and ensure a cohesive approach to its political strategy. The appointment of Gautam and Beniwal as national coordinators signals a renewed focus on strengthening the party’s presence and addressing organizational challenges ahead of future elections.

As the BSP prepares to navigate the evolving political landscape, Mayawati’s decisions underscore her commitment to maintaining a disciplined and dedicated leadership team, while reaffirming her central role in the party’s future.

Rajya Sabha MP and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha on Wednesday took a sharp dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sarcastically referring to him as the “creator of the universe” and “Brahma.” Jha’s remarks came a day after Kumar engaged in a heated exchange in the Bihar Assembly, where he claimed credit for elevating RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav in the state’s politics.

During the Assembly session on Tuesday, Nitish Kumar had targeted Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition and Lalu Prasad’s son, stating, “What was in Bihar before? I made your father. When he entered politics, there was nothing in Bihar at the time.” Kumar also claimed that even members of Lalu’s caste opposed his rise, but he supported him nonetheless. “Even people from your caste were asking me why I was doing this, but I still supported him,” Kumar said.

Responding to Kumar’s comments, Manoj Jha expressed concern over the Chief Minister’s tone and language. Speaking to ANI, Jha said, “I am worried about Nitish Kumar now. It is so unfortunate that he is using such language. You (Nitish Kumar) were in Lalu ji’s team, you were called Lalu ji’s man.”

Jha defended Tejashwi Yadav’s speech in the Assembly, stating that the RJD leader had presented a logical and comprehensive analysis of Bihar’s contemporary challenges and future prospects. “Yesterday, Tejashwi Yadav, without any bitterness, gave a historical analysis, contemporary challenges, and an outline of the future. He explained everything based on logic… You (Nitish Kumar) did not answer it… You are the creator of the universe, you are Brahma. If such thoughts are coming to your mind these days, then I am even more worried about you,” Jha added.

The RJD leader’s sarcastic remarks highlight the growing tension between the ruling Janata Dal (United) and the opposition RJD in Bihar. Earlier on Tuesday, Tejashwi Yadav had compared the governance of his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, with that of Nitish Kumar, criticizing the current administration’s policies and performance.

Tejashwi also slammed the budget presented by the Nitish Kumar government, accusing it of failing to address the state’s pressing issues. The RJD has consistently criticized the JD(U)-led government for its handling of unemployment, education, and healthcare, among other concerns.

The war of words between the two political heavyweights underscores the deepening rift in Bihar’s political landscape. As the state gears up for future elections, the verbal sparring between Nitish Kumar and the RJD leadership is likely to intensify, with both sides vying to assert their influence and credibility.

Manoj Jha’s jibe at Nitish Kumar as the “creator of the universe” reflects the RJD’s strategy to portray the Chief Minister as out of touch with reality, while Kumar’s claims about Lalu Prasad’s rise aim to reinforce his own political legacy. The ongoing political drama in Bihar continues to captivate the state’s electorate, setting the stage for a fierce electoral battle in the coming months.