President Donald Trump is attempting to implement his "America First" agenda at breakneck speed but, as expected, he has been slowed in some areas by judicial rulings in response to lawsuits filed by his political opponents and federal workers facing potential unemployment.

In one such case concerning plans to place thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development employees on administrative leave, the presiding judge just extended for another week a temporary restraining order blocking that move that was supposed to expire on Friday, The Hill reported.

The judge wanted additional time to consider whether to impose a more permanent preliminary injunction to stop what an attorney for USAID workers described as an "unprecedented usurpation of power" by the Trump administration.

Trump made moves to shut down USAID

On President Trump's first day in office, he issued an executive order that imposed a 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign aid while those generous disbursements were reviewed to ensure they were aligned with his "America First" policy agenda.

That same day, Trump also established the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and tasked it with rooting out examples of waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending, of which there was plenty to be found within USAID, which in turn resulted in a shutdown of that agency and plans to place thousands of agency workers on leave pending likely termination.

Those moves led to a pair of federal workers' unions filing a lawsuit on behalf of USAID employees to block the Trump administration's plans to dramatically downsize the agency and roll its legitimate remnants into the State Department.

Judge issues order halting Trump's plans for USAID

CBS News reported last week that D.C. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was appointed by President Trump in his first term, initially favored the USAID employees and imposed a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration's plans until February 14.

The judge wrote in his order, "All USAID employees currently on administrative leave shall be reinstated until that date, and shall be given complete access to email, payment, and security notification systems until that date, and no additional employees shall be placed on administrative leave before that date."

That meant that around 500 USAID workers who'd already been placed on leave were immediately reinstated and around 2,200 employees who were about to be placed on leave were permitted to remain in their jobs for the time being. The order also halted plans to recall to the U.S. hundreds of USAID workers who were stationed in foreign nations around the world.

Temporary restraining order extended by one week

With that Friday deadline fast approaching, Courthouse News reported that Judge Nichols revealed on Thursday that he'd extended the TRO's expiration date for another week to February 21 while he further considered whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the planned downsizing of USAID.

Yet, while the extended pause was heralded by President Trump's opponents as a win, they probably shouldn't get too excited, as both Courthouse News and The Hill reported that Nichols "expressed doubt" and "appeared skeptical" of some of the claims put forward by the attorneys representing the USAID workers.

The judge seemed to question whether he even had the proper jurisdiction to grant a requested preliminary injunction as well as the workers' claims of "irreparable harm" if placed on leave or fired, and suggested that there were other legal avenues aside from the courts that those workers could utilize to pursue their claims.

Legal battle not over yet

Hopefully, Judge Nichols will render his final decision on a preliminary injunction before the extended expiration of the temporary restraining order at the end of next week.

If he declines to issue the injunction, the Trump administration will undoubtedly resume moving forward with the plans to sharply reduce the size and scope of USAID, while on the other hand, if the injunction is imposed, it is certain that the administration will appeal that decision and request that it be overturned by a higher court.