Judge says Elon Musk’s DOGE ‘likely violated’ Constitution by shutting down USAID

Elon Musk’s attempts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency “likely violated the Constitution in multiple ways,” according to a federal judge’s ruling.

District Judge Theodore Chuang in Washington, D.C. granted a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks DOGE from access to any USAID systems and from doing “any work” related to shutting down the agency.

While the legal battle rumbles on, Casique, a barber by trade, finds himself incarcerated in the maximum security CECOT mega-prison in Central America with no record of his case visible on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, according to his distraught mother Mirelis Casique, who says his rights are being violated.

Ms Casique, who has taken to TikTok to draw attention to her son’s plight, told The New York Times she had recognized him by his tattoos, his ears and his general stature in news photographs of the newly-arrived inmates and said she felt “broken at the injustice” of what had taken place.

President Donald Trump has posted his own readout on his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, supplementing the official White House statement.

He wrote on Truth Social:

My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine. This War would have never started if I were President! Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end. That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!

Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News star who is deeply embedded within Donald Trump’s inner circle, warned the president this week that a strike on Iran “would certainly result” in a war that would cost billions of dollars and lead to “thousands of American deaths” in the region.

The Department of Government Efficiency’s actions to shut down USAID “likely violated the Constitution,” according to a judge’s ruling.

Judge Theodore Chuang granted a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks DOGE from access to any USAID systems and from doing “any work” related to shutting down the agency.

A 54-year-old veteran who was escorted out of a town hall meeting following a shouting match with a North Carolina congressman stood by his decision to speak out, saying he “wasn’t going to be silenced,” according to a report.

Cillian Sherlock reports.

The White House has said President Donald Trump and Russian Vladimir Putin have agreed to start “the movement to peace” in Russia’s three-year-old war against Ukraine with a 30-day ceasefire that will include a halt to attacks targeting the countries’ energy infrastructure after a 90-minute phone call between the two leaders wrapped on Tuesday.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest from Washington, D.C.