Judge clears Trump administration to put over 2,000 USAid workers on leave

Order by Trump-appointed judge setback for government employee unions who have filed lawsuit against firings

A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to put more than 2,000 US Agency for International Development (USAid) workers on leave, a setback for government employee unions that are suing over what they have called an effort to dismantle the foreign aid agency.

US district judge Carl Nichols in Washington lifted a temporary restraining order he had put in place at the outset of the case and declined to issue a longer term order keeping the employees in their posts. He wrote that he was satisfied by the administration's assurances in court filings that USAid personnel abroad who were placed on leave would still be protected by US security.