A federal appeals court ruled on August 13, 2025, that the Trump administration can suspend or terminate billions of dollars in foreign aid funding that had been congressionally appropriated. This decision reversed a lower court ruling and lifted an injunction requiring the U.S. State Department to continue making foreign aid payments, effectively allowing President Trump to cut potentially billions in USAID funds this year. The ruling was delivered by the D.C. Circuit Court and was seen as a legal victory for the administration. Additionally, the same court ruled in a 2-1 decision to allow the Trump administration to proceed with plans to reduce the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) staff through mass layoffs, overturning a lower court's attempt to block these actions. These developments reflect ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce federal spending and reshape regulatory agencies.