Billions meant for fighting disease and saving lives overseas may never leave Washington’s bank accounts. A divided federal appeals court says the Trump administration can keep its freeze on foreign aid — money Congress already approved. That’s nearly $10 billion from HIV/AIDS programs to global health efforts.
The majority of the court sidestepped the larger question of whether the president can override Congress’ spending power, focusing instead on a technical legal hurdle.
In a blistering dissent, Judge Florence Pan accused her colleagues of letting the executive branch dodge the Constitution. In her words, the Supreme Court has held “in no uncertain terms” that the president does not have the authority to disobey laws for policy reasons.
For now, the funds remain locked, and health programs and some of the most at-risk communities in the world wait and wonder if help will come.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
