Washington, D.C. — A federal court today issued a final order in Rural Development Innovations Ltd., et al. v. Marocco, et al., that blocks the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful attempt to dismantle the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) – a congressionally established agency that funds grassroots development initiatives across Africa.
The court’s decision follows an injunction issued last year, which restored legal control over USADF and barred Pete Marocco, who was unlawfully installed by the administration, from continuing to serve as “acting” chair or president of the agency.
“This is a victory for the rule of law and the communities that rely on USADF’s vital work,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represented Rural Development Innovations Ltd. and two longtime USADF employees in the suit. “This president cannot ignore Congress to shut down a federal agency, harm federal workers, and upend lives. We will continue fighting against power grabs like this to protect the ability of independent agencies to fulfill the mission that Congress gave them to perform.”
The injunction and subsequent order come in response to Marocco’s unilateral actions, including trying to dissolve the USADF workforce, halt its programs, and cancel its grants—moves that would have effectively shuttered the agency without congressional approval.
The team at Democracy Forward on this case includes Joel McElvain, Bradley Girard, and Robin F. Thurston.
Read the court’s order here and opinion here. The original complaint can be found here.
– # # # –
Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
