In a major victory for President Trump, the Supreme Court ruled his administration can withhold $4 billion in foreign aid, reinforcing his “America First” policy.
Washington, D.C. — Sept. 26, 2025 — The U.S. Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a major legal and political win on Friday, granting his administration the authority to withhold nearly $4 billion in foreign aid that Congress had approved for the current fiscal year.
The ruling aligns with Trump’s “America First” agenda, which prioritizes domestic spending and demands greater accountability for how U.S. taxpayer dollars are used abroad.
The decision came after Chief Justice John Roberts had earlier issued a temporary order blocking a lower court injunction that sought to force the administration to release the funds before the fiscal year ended in September. Friday’s full court ruling now cements Trump’s authority to withhold the aid.
America First in Action
For Trump and his supporters, the ruling underscores the president’s long-standing argument that billions sent overseas often end up in the hands of corrupt regimes, hostile governments, or organizations that fund anti-American and anti-Israel initiatives.
Officials within the administration said the aid freeze is part of a broader review to ensure that U.S. funding does not indirectly bankroll terror-sponsoring states or hostile UN agencies notorious for their anti-Israel bias.
Critics vs. Supporters
Critics in Congress blasted the ruling as undermining the legislature’s power of the purse, arguing that it sets a precedent for executive overreach. But supporters counter that the decision restores sanity to foreign policy spending, ensuring U.S. dollars serve national interests rather than propping up adversaries.
Why It Matters
This ruling is likely to reverberate across Washington and beyond. Allies dependent on U.S. aid—from parts of Africa to the Middle East—may face budgetary shocks, while Israel and other close partners are expected to remain unaffected given their strategic alignment with American security priorities.
In the larger picture, the court’s decision strengthens Trump’s hand internationally, signaling that the era of blank-check foreign aid is over.
