ＵＳＡＩＤ解体差し止めを命令　「違憲の可能性高い」　米連邦地裁

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米連邦地裁は１８日、イーロン・マスク氏が率いる政府効率化省（ＤＯＧＥ）による国際開発庁（ＵＳＡＩＤ）の閉鎖は憲法違反に当たるとして、即時差し止めを命じた。（写真は、看板が撤去されたワシントンの国際開発庁〈ＵＳＡＩＤ〉本部）
　この訴訟は、ＵＳＡＩＤの現職および元職員らがＤＯＧＥを相手取って起こしたもので、原告側は米国憲法の任命条項に基づき、マスク氏がこの権限を行使するには上院の承認が必要だと主張していた。
　地裁のセオドア・チュアン判事は、ＤＯＧＥによるＵＳＡＩＤの解体が「複数の点で米国憲法に違反している可能性が高い」と指摘。また、マスク氏が政府に対し広範な権限を行使し続けることを許せば、「任命条項の抜け道をつくることになる」との考えを述べた。
　さらに、ＵＳＡＩＤの閉鎖時期や方法を決定する権限は議会にあると指摘し、マスク氏とＤＯＧＥの行動は議会の権限を侵害しているとの見解を示した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/03/19-16:46）

A federal judge ordered an immediate halt on Tuesday to the shutdown of the main US aid agency by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk and DOGE's dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways, District Court Judge Theodore Chuang said.
Chuang issued his ruling in response to a lawsuit brought by current and former USAID employees and contractors challenging the legal authority of the billionaire tapped by President Donald Trump to slash federal government spending and jobs.
They argued that under the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution, Musk needed to be confirmed by the Senate in order to exercise his authority.
The judge agreed, saying that allowing Musk to continue to wield enormous power over the government would open the door to an end-run around the Appointments Clause and reduce it to nothing more than a technical formality.
Chuang said the actions by Musk and DOGE had violated the authority of Congress to decide when and how to close down USAID, where most of the workers have been placed on leave or fired since January. The agency was created by Congress in 1961.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that the United States was cancelling 83 percent of programs at USAID, which distributes humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries.
The judge's ruling was the latest legal setback to Trump's cost-cutting and government staff reduction drive. Another judge recently ordered the rehiring of thousands of probationary workers in multiple agencies who had been fired by Musk's DOGE.
Chuang ordered that access to email and other electronic systems be reinstated to current USAID employees and contractors.
He said the agency should also be allowed to reoccupy its Washington headquarters unless the court receives confirmation from the acting administrator of USAID or another authorized officer of the United States that the building is being permanently closed.
Trump signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to allow time to assess overseas expenses.