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2025-02-22 Home Front: Politix
Judge clears way for Trump administration to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job
[MSN] A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for one of the Trump administration's remaining steps in its dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, allowing it to move forward with pulling thousands of USAID staffers off the job in the United States and around the world.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected pleas to keep his temporary stay on the government's plan to remove all but a small fraction of USAID staffers from their posts. His ruling also allows the administration to start the clock ticking on its planned 30-day deadline for USAID workers abroad to move back to the U.S. at government expense.

His ruling comes in a broad lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of the agency staff, especially those at risk of being stranded abroad. The suit describes the Trump administration stalling needed medical evacuations for USAID staffers and spouses overseas, cutting some contractors off from emergency communications, and leaving staffers to flee political violence in Congo without support or funding.

The lawsuit more broadly challenges the constitutionality of the administration's dismantling of USAID, saying eliminating an agency would require congressional approval.

"At present, the agency is still standing," Nichols wrote in his ruling. "And so the alleged injuries on which plaintiffs rely in seeking injunctive relief flow essentially from their members’ existing employment relationships with USAID."

Nichols found that the unions’ challenge must be dealt with under federal employment laws rather than in district court.

President Donald Trump
...Never got invited to a P.Diddy party...
 and the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency tied to billionaire Elon Musk have moved swiftly to shutter USAID, calling its programs out of line with the president's agenda and asserting without evidence that its work is wasteful.

The case is one of multiple lawsuits from groups representing USAID workers and nonprofits and businesses that are challenging the administration's sudden shutdown of the agency, including its placing of agency leadership on administrative leave. A judge in another suit has ordered the administration to temporarily lift a freeze on funding that has shut down USAID programs and operations worldwide.

Nichols, a Trump appointee, said he had been "very concerned" about workers in high-risk areas left overseas without access to emergency communications. But he has since been reassured by the Trump administration that they would still have access to two-way radios that allow 24—7 communications in emergencies, as well as a phone app with a "panic button."

He said the government’s statements persuaded him "that the risk posed to USAID employees who are placed on administrative leave while stationed abroad — if there is any — is far more minimal than it initially appeared."

The judge also said he was satisfied by assurances from USAID deputy administrator Pete Marocco that workers abroad would be allowed to stay in their jobs beyond the 30 days even if they stayed overseas.
Posted by trailing wife 2025-02-22 2025-02-22 00:59|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ]  Top

#1 Judge grants 19 AGs preliminary injunction against DOGE access to Treasury payment system
Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-22 03:38||   2025-02-22 03:38|| Front Page Top

#2 Supreme Court pauses Trump administration's effort to fire head of whistleblower protection agency
Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-22 03:40||   2025-02-22 03:40|| Front Page Top

#3 
Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-22 03:48||   2025-02-22 03:48|| Front Page Top

#4 The USAID workers abroad is a complication that I had not thought of. The move back timer may be pushed out in labor court. 30 seems aggressive, but warranted based on what USAID was doing for a living.
Posted by Super Hose 2025-02-22 10:01||   2025-02-22 10:01|| Front Page Top

#5 Thirty days is very doable. My last move for the company was accomplished in 19 days, and that included three days of thumb twiddling while we awaited the formal announcement; the trailing daughters and I even had time for a final overnight run back to Germany to say goodbye to friends and shop for a few last specialty items ordered to be delivered to the house in Brussels the next day. A full inventory with photos of key items — necessary to be recompensed should the shipping container fall off the boat, as once happened to friends of mine — takes at most a single day, especially if one kept receipts for key purchases, and that included counting all the trailing daughters’ underthings and Lego sets. Everyone who goes out there knows how to do this stuff, and if not, there are always plenty of trailing wives happy to be consulted. As for those few hundred problem pregnancies, they should have been back Stateside already — you do not want to be stuck out in the bush should Baby decide to come early — and their husbands will have plenty of offers from the local trailing wives to help get the household packed and shipped. No sympathy from me, I’m afraid —if you aren’t willing to do the work to become seriously competent at this stuff, you have no business going out there.
Posted by trailing wife 2025-02-22 22:32||   2025-02-22 22:32|| Front Page Top

#6 @#5 - "Thirty days is very doable". Generally agree (I've done 16 international moves - 8 round trips). Almost always come down to local labor/movers availability. Off peak season right now which is good. The fact we usually only have a few (sometimes 1) reliable company overseas is bad. Coordinating things to left of the actual pack-out is what takes time. The Department of Redundancy Department bureaucracy at its best.
Posted by Bangkok Billy 2025-02-22 22:50||   2025-02-22 22:50|| Front Page Top

#7 The rats will find another home if we dont get them out fast.
Posted by 49 Pan 2025-02-22 22:54||   2025-02-22 22:54|| Front Page Top

18:46 Grom the Affective
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