Judge Orders Reinstatement of All USAID Employees

Here we go again. Another federal judge had decided to undo the firing of federal employees, this time at USAID.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ordered Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reinstate access to email, payment, security notification and other electronic systems for all USAID employees and contractors. He also ordered the department to provide written confirmation of compliance to the court within seven days.

“The court will require Defendants, within 14 days, to secure and submit a written agreement among all necessary parties that ensures that USAID will be able to reoccupy USAID headquarters at its original location, in the event of a final ruling in favor of Plaintiffs,” the order said.

The idea that this judge’s take will be the “final ruling” is amusing. President Trump has already said the government will appeal. The judge’s order was a preliminary one but no doubt this is how he is going to rule eventually. Then this case will go to the appeals court and possibly from there to the Supreme Court.

Trump blasted the ruling during a Fox News interview that aired Tuesday night, saying his administration would appeal.

“I guarantee you we will be appealing it. We have rogue judges that are destroying our country,” Trump said.

This isn’t the first time a judge has reversed actions by the Trump administration but it appears to be the first time a judge has taken direct aim at DOGE.

The ruling, by Judge Theodore D. Chuang of U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, appeared to be the first time a judge has moved to rein in Mr. Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency directly. It was based on the finding that Mr. Musk has acted as a U.S. officer without having been properly appointed to that role by President Trump.

Judge Chuang wrote that a group of unnamed aid workers who had sued to stop the demolition of U.S.A.I.D. and its programs was likely to succeed in the lawsuit. He agreed with the workers’ contention that Mr. Musk’s rapid assertion of power over executive agencies was likely in violation of the Constitution’s appointments clause…

The finding that Mr. Musk had personally, and unlawfully, overseen the dismantling of the agency offered a firm rejection of his operation’s authority. In the sternly worded order, Judge Chuang warned that any skirting of its requirements could result in him holding Mr. Musk or members of his team in contempt.

What Democrats are hoping for here is 1) a loss for DOGE that other judges around the country can imitate and 2) forcing Trump to send Musk to the Senate for confirmation, which would then be turned into a Kavanaugh-style circus by Democrats and the left. Would Trump consider that? Would Musk?

We’ll have to wait and see how much of that Musk wants to put up with given that he is already paying a personal and financial price for crossing the Democratic party and the left. They are throwing everything they have at him. No doubt Musk will be the main villain in every TV show and movie by this time next year. Their hate is reaching a fever pitch for the man himself and everything connected to him. We’ve seen this before of course but it’s always disturbing to behold.

Meanwhile, back in reality.

Congratulations to the @SpaceX and @NASA teams for another safe astronaut return!

Thank you to @POTUS for prioritizing this mission! https://t.co/KknFDbh59s

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 18, 2025