Trump Foreign Aid Freeze Blocked by Supreme Court
Ask students: What kind of funds did the Trump administration freeze? When did the Trump administration freeze foreign aid payments?
On March 5, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid for work that has already been done. The administration asked the court to block a lower-court ruling ordering the government to release the funds. The court case is just one part of the Trump administration's efforts to slash the federal government, including by canceling contracts already in progress.
Key Term
District court — The first level of federal courts in the U.S. Most trials begin at district courts and then cases can be appealed up to the Supreme Court
Discussion Questions
- What kind of funds did the Trump administration freeze?
- When did the Trump administration freeze foreign aid payments?
- Who had sued the Trump administration over foreign funds?
- How did the district court judge rule on the case? What did he order the Trump administration to do?
- Why did four Justices dissent (disagree with) the order to resume paying funds for work already completed?
Focus Questions
In this case, the majority of Supreme Court Justices agreed that the Trump administration should resume foreign aid payments for work already completed, but four out of nine justices disagreed. What do you think is the reason for division among the justices? Whose interests and rights were the two groups of Justices considering?
Media literacy: Why do you think this story focused on details such as public polling around expectations that Trump will ignore the courts and less on the substance of the case?
Extension Activity
For many observers, this case has been an important test of the nature of checks and balances in the federal government. Critics say that Trump canceling contracts is a sign that his administration (the executive branch) is taking over the spending power of Congress (the legislative branch).
Supporters of the administration argue that executive powers grant the president the right to review spending to ensure it isn't being spent wastefully or even in violation of the president's political goals.
Do you know much about checks and balances and the separate branches of government? Watch this video on PBS Learning Media and discuss — do you think the Trump administration's actions threaten separation of powers? Why or why not?
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
Share My Lesson has free, tailored preK-12 resources to ensure your students leave your classroom equipped with a deeper knowledge of civics and government to think critically about today's toughest issues.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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