U.S. District Judge Amir Ali denied the Department of Justice's request to push the midnight deadline by which the Trump administration needs to pay more than $1.9 billion in foreign aid. The case is now in the hands of a panel of three appellate judges – each nominated to the bench by Democratic presidents – who will decide whether to issue an emergency stay of the deadline.

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued a temporary restraining order on Feb. 13 that ordered the State Department and USAID to restore foreign assistance funds.