The ruling partially suspends the dissolution of the agency until February 14. It prohibits sending approximately 2,200 USAID employees on paid leave and reinstates 500 who had already been terminated.
The judge also temporarily barred the White House from transferring USAID humanitarian workers stationed outside the United States, according to the announcement.
The agency notes that the lawsuit was filed by the largest union of federal employees in the U.S. and the association of diplomatic service workers. Nichols rejected their other requests, including the reopening of USAID buildings and the restoration of the agency's grant and contract funding. The judge will review requests for a longer suspension of the agency's dissolution on January 12.
On February 7, Reuters, citing sources, reported that the Trump administration plans to retain only 294 USAID employees.