Up First from NPR
USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse
Wed, 19 Mar 2025
A federal judge rules that President Trump's administration likely violated the Constitution when it shut down USAID, but Trump vows to appeal. Hours after Trump and Putin announced a limited ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine launched new attacks, raising doubts about the deal. And Israel breaks the ceasefire with Hamas and resumes airstrikes on Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Jane Greenhalgh, Ryland Barton, Russell Lewis, Alice Woelfle and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Destinee Adams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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I was just asked, back boys or in sync? Back boys? Backstreet Boys. Sorry, Backstreet Boys. That's a tough question. One that you'd have to tell it to my heart.
You are so corny. A federal judge says Elon Musk did not have the authority to dismantle a key U.S. agency.
Critics of the unelected billionaire hope it reigns in his influence in government, but will it change what's already been done?
I'm Leila Faldin, that's Anne Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Within hours of President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a limited ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine launched strikes at each other. So is this agreement changing anything?
And Israel broke the ceasefire in a surprise attack that was one of the deadliest in the entire Gaza war. The Israeli government says it's a pressure tactic to get hostages home. But do most Israelis want a return to war? Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.
A federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency likely violated the Constitution when they effectively shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development.
But President Trump is promising to appeal the decision, calling the judge rogue for interfering in Doge's efforts to effectively shut down USAID. For the past six weeks, the Trump administration has been dismantling the agency. It's now a shadow of its former self.
Here to tell us more about what this new court decision means for the administration and for USAID, we're joined now by NPR's Fatma Tanis. So tell us about the case that prompted this ruling.
So a couple dozen USAID employees and contractors sued Elon Musk and Doge, saying that their actions to dismantle the agency were reckless, they were done in a slash and burn manner, and that Musk and Doge didn't have the authority because Musk is not an appointed agency head who wasn't confirmed by the Senate.
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