Small U.S. Agency Fights Back: Legal Battle to Protect DOGE’s Future

A federal judge has stepped in to protect the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) from being shut down. The judge ruled temporarily against the Trump administration’s efforts to remove the agency’s leader after he filed a lawsuit to block these actions. The USADF is one of the smallest agencies in the federal government, and its role is important for supporting African initiatives that tackle economic and social challenges.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a stay on any attempts to replace the agency’s president while noting there are key legal issues at play. This decision will hold until March 11. The judge’s ruling also prevents the administration from installing a State Department official as the new leader of USADF.

The lawsuit arose when USADF employees stopped staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from entering their headquarters. Recently, President Trump ordered the elimination of USADF, claiming it should be done “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”

Ward Brehm, who leads USADF’s board, is fighting back against DOGE’s efforts to remove him. He claims that Musk and the Trump administration are violating both the Constitution and federal law through their actions.

According to the lawsuit, DOGE staff misled USADF employees by saying they were there to update computer systems. Once USADF found out the real intention was to shut down the agency, they restricted DOGE’s access to their headquarters.

The lawsuit details troubling behavior, including threats directed at board members to comply with plans that could drastically diminish USADF’s operations or face removal.

The USADF was created by Congress in 1980 to support African-led initiatives designed to improve conditions in marginalized communities across the continent. The law ensures that the ADF can only be dissolved by an Act of Congress.

Its board consists of seven members, all nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. While the president can choose a chair, only the board can appoint its president.

Recently, the Trump administration has tried to place Pete Marocco—charged with dismantling U.S. foreign aid—as the USADF’s sole board member without Senate approval. This action raises significant legal concerns.

The lawsuit argues that the administration’s approach looks to ignore important legal requirements and effectively shut down the USADF. Similar tactics have already been used to reduce the staff of the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) to just one active employee, a troubling trend in the administration’s broader aim to cut humanitarian programs around the world.

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