South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled in favor of his office and the Trump administration in a dispute over U.S. foreign aid spending. The case centered on whether the President or private organizations with contracts should have authority over foreign aid decisions.
“This is a major victory against the D.C. activist class that thinks they can run America’s foreign policy from a courtroom,” Attorney General Wilson said. “The President has every right to ensure that taxpayer dollars actually serve American interests. For too long, foreign aid has been treated like a bottomless slush fund for global NGOs and D.C. insiders. That ends now. This ruling sends a clear message: America’s resources will be spent to strengthen America first, not to bankroll the pet projects of unelected bureaucrats and special interest groups.”
The appeals court vacated an earlier order from a lower court that had blocked President Trump’s executive action restricting certain foreign aid spending through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As a result, the administration can proceed with its policy to review and potentially redirect how foreign aid is allocated.
Attorney General Wilson led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general supporting this effort, emphasizing that control over foreign policy spending should remain with elected officials rather than private entities.
“This was about keeping our foreign policy decisions where they belong, with leaders elected to represent the American people,” Wilson said. “It’s not about politics; it’s about the separation of powers and making sure every dollar works for our citizens first.”
With this decision, the Trump administration can continue its review of U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure future spending aligns with national priorities.
