Washington: A federal judge has mandated the Trump administration to release millions of dollars in foreign aid that had been previously withheld, asserting that the government violated the terms of an earlier temporary restraining order. The decision comes after a ruling on Tuesday by Judge Amir Ali, who criticized the administration for not compensating nonprofit groups for work completed prior to an executive order by President Donald Trump that froze foreign aid for 90 days.

According to Anadolu Agency, Judge Ali, appointed during the Biden era, reaffirmed his previous restraining order issued on February 13, requiring the government to distribute the funds by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The January 20 executive order that initiated the freeze was met with significant opposition from aid groups who argued that the administration did not have the authority to withhold funds that had been approved by the US Congress, which holds the constitutional 'power of the purse.'

During the two-hour hearing on Tuesday, Judge Ali noted that evidence presented by the plaintiffs indicated the government had not lifted the suspension of funds as mandated by the restraining order. He pointed out that the government failed to provide any specific examples of funds being unfrozen, despite requests for such evidence. Justice Department lawyers acknowledged the administration's failure to comply with the order but argued against repayment, citing 'sovereign immunity'-a principle that the sovereign of a state cannot commit a legal wrong.

In a tense exchange, Judge Ali pressed a government lawyer for clarity on whether the administration had taken steps to unfreeze the funds, expressing frustration over the lack of straightforward answers. The lawyer admitted to not being in a position to confirm whether any funds had been released, instead noting that preparations for a compliance report were underway.

Despite attempts by the administration to justify its non-compliance, Judge Ali emphasized that the terms of the restraining order were clear and that the hearing was to address its enforcement, not to revisit its merits. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal following the hearing.

A representative for the nonprofits argued that the administration had neglected the court order by failing to release the funds, highlighting that no directives had been issued to facilitate the flow of payments. The court's interaction with the government, the lawyer contended, revealed a lack of action to unfreeze the funds.