The Trump administration has claimed that it cannot comply with a judge’s order to release foreign aid funding by midnight, despite being directed to do so almost two weeks ago. The Department of Justice filed papers seeking a stay of the lower court’s ruling, stating that it will take “weeks” to free up the $2 billion it owes. The judge had set the deadline after aid groups and businesses argued that the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development had not been complying with an earlier order to unfreeze foreign aid. The aid groups said they have been forced to lay off employees and face legal threats as a result of the funding freeze. The judge rejected the government’s request to stay his order, questioning why it had taken them so long to comply. The aid groups urged the appeals court not to stay the ruling, arguing that the government’s claim that it would take weeks to release the funds is unreasonable. The Justice Department, however, maintains that it is in compliance with the judge’s order, saying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reviewed and made decisions on over 12,000 awards. The government has also objected to the aid groups’ request to call Rubio as a witness in the case. This situation marks the second time a court has found that the administration is not complying with a court order, raising concerns about the administration’s willingness to follow judicial rulings. President Trump has said that his administration will always abide by court orders.
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