The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled in favor of South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the Trump administration in a dispute over control of U.S. foreign aid spending. The court’s decision vacates a lower court order that had blocked President Trump’s executive action, which aimed to halt certain spending through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This ruling allows the administration to proceed with its policy to review and potentially redirect foreign aid.
Attorney General Wilson commented on the outcome, stating, “This is a major victory against the D.C. activist class that thinks they can run America’s foreign policy from a courtroom,” Attorney General Wilson said. “The President has every right to ensure that taxpayer dollars actually serve American interests. For too long, foreign aid has been treated like a bottomless slush fund for global NGOs and D.C. insiders. That ends now. This ruling sends a clear message: America’s resources will be spent to strengthen America first, not to bankroll the pet projects of unelected bureaucrats and special interest groups.”
The case centered on whether decisions about U.S. foreign aid should be made by elected officials or by private organizations holding contracts with the government.
Wilson led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general supporting the administration’s position in this matter.
“This was about keeping our foreign policy decisions where they belong, with leaders elected to represent the American people,” Wilson said. “It’s not about politics; it’s about the separation of powers and making sure every dollar works for our citizens first.”
With this decision, the Trump administration is now able to continue its review of U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure future allocations align with national priorities.
A copy of the court’s opinion is available online.
