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USAID unions sue Trump over ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ dismantling

February 7, 2025 | | Print Article

Yet another group of disgruntled, left-wing federal employees have filed suit against the Trump administration.

The latest suit comes from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), both of which have challenged the administration’s plan to drastically trim the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) workforce.

The suit was filed in federal court Wednesday by Democracy Forward and Public Citizen Litigation Group on behalf of the two aforementioned plaintiffs.

Furthermore, the suit was filed shortly after the administration announced plans to fire all but about 300 USAID workers on Friday at 11:59 p.m. EST.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs describe the Trump administration’s plans as “unconstitutional and illegal,” adding that the administration has “systematically dismantled” USAID.

“These actions have generated a global humanitarian crisis by abruptly halting the crucial work of USAID employees, grantees, and contractors,” the lawsuit reads. “They have cost thousands of American jobs. And they have imperiled U.S. national security interests.”

The suit continues by demanding the court force the Trump administration to reverse everything its done since day one and “halt any further steps to dissolve the agency.”

“Not a single one of defendants’ actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization,” the lawsuit reads. “And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency.”

The lawsuit concludes by claiming President Donald Trump’s attempt to eliminate most of (if not all) USAID is an unlawful power grab of congressional authority.

“President Trump’s actions to dissolve USAID exceed presidential authority and usurp legislative authority conferred upon Congress by the Constitution, in violation of the separation of powers,” the lawsuit reads.

“Dissolving USAID is illegal and unconstitutional,” Public Citizen Litigation Group attorney Lauren Bateman said in a statement. “The Administration’s actions will cost lives and threaten the livelihood–and in some cases the physical safety–of thousands of American workers who have dedicated their lives to public service.”

“Without USAID, U.S.-led medical clinics, soup kitchens, refugee assistance programs, and countless other projects cannot operate. Meanwhile, thousands of Americans who support and lead these important initiatives are out of work. This disruption of aid is unfathomably cruel, unnecessary, and against the law,” she added.

“The Trump administration’s attack on USAID is part of a coordinated campaign to undermine the will of Congress and isolate America in the world,” Democracy Forward president and CEO Skye Perryman said in his own statement. “This will make Americans at home and abroad less safe.”

In another statement, AFSA president Tom Yazdgerdi whined about USAID workers losing their cushy jobs.

“The dismantling of USAID including its Foreign Service members has thrown dedicated public servants—and their families—into chaos and uncertainty,” he said. “These professionals have spent their careers advancing America’s interests abroad, only to find their livelihoods upended overnight.”

“The consequences of this disruption go far beyond individual careers—it weakens U.S. leadership and undermines global stability worldwide. AFSA will continue to defend its members and pursue all options to protect this essential workforce,” he added.

Trump for his part told CNN on Monday that he doesn’t believe he needs congressional approval to dismantle USAID.

“Not when it comes to fraud,” he said. “We just want to do the right thing. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago.”

AFSA and AFGE are both backed by congressional Democrats like Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat who told the BBC that Trump’s proposed cuts are “horrible news for global public health.”

“There are ways to reform the USAID in a fashion that is much less harmful to the mission of the agency and to all the beneficiaries than the way in which it’s being conducted right now,” he added.

Vivek Saxena
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