USAID Ruling, Ukraine On Trump Putin Agreement, Gaza Ceasefire Collapse

Summary

Up First from NPR – March 19, 2025

NPR's Up First brings you the three biggest stories of the day with in-depth reporting and analysis. This episode covers a federal court ruling on the dismantling of USAID by Elon Musk and Doge, the fallout from a limited ceasefire between the U.S. and Russia in the Ukraine conflict, and the collapse of a Gaza ceasefire following a deadly Israeli attack.

---

1. Federal Judge Blocks Elon Musk's Efforts to Dismantle USAID

Overview: A significant legal battle unfolds as a federal judge rules that Elon Musk and Doge overstepped their authority in attempting to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This ruling challenges the Trump administration's recent efforts to downsize the agency.

Key Points:

• Court Ruling:

  • Judge Theodore Chuang determined that Musk and Doge violated the Constitution by shutting down USAID without proper authority. His 68-page opinion highlighted that Musk made unilateral decisions affecting the agency's operations, thereby encroaching on Congressional authority.
  • Quote (03:55): "The evidence showed that, quote, Musk made the decisions to shut down USAID's headquarters and website, even though he lacked the authority to make that decision."

• Impact on USAID:

  • The agency remains largely defunct, with most contracts terminated and staff reduced to a few hundred. While the judge has barred further attempts to dismantle USAID and ordered the reinstatement of staff access to digital systems, the damage to its humanitarian and development programs remains substantial.
  • Quote (04:26): "But the impact of this ruling is quite minimal. It won't restore the work that the agency was doing before all of this."

• Political Reactions:

  • President Trump vows to appeal the decision, labeling the judge as a "rogue" for interfering with his administration's actions.
  • Norm Eisen, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a "victory against Elon Musk and his attack not only on USAID but the US Government and the Constitution."

Attribution:

• Amelia Martinez and Layla Fadel moderated the discussion.
• Eleanor Beardsley, NPR’s legal correspondent, provided in-depth analysis (03:10 – 06:07).

---

2. Limited Ceasefire Between Trump and Putin: Minimal Impact on Ukraine Conflict

Overview: Despite a high-profile announcement of a limited ceasefire between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both Russia and Ukraine have continued their military strikes, raising questions about the efficacy of the agreement.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Breakdown:

  • Hours after the ceasefire announcement, both nations resumed strikes targeting each other’s infrastructure, indicating a lack of commitment to reducing hostilities.
  • Quote (06:19): "This comes hours after President Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, announced a limited ceasefire in Ukraine."

• Ukrainian Response:

  • President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about the ceasefire, emphasizing that ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure undermine peace efforts.
  • Quote (07:10): "Maximum pressure must be put on Russia for the sake of peace."

• European Union Stance:

  • Leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz reaffirmed continued military support for Ukraine, rejecting Russia's demands to halt military assistance.
  • Quote (08:46): "Europe cannot let Russia win this war."

• Analysis:

  • Experts suggest that the ceasefire is more of a strategic maneuver by Putin to test U.S. resolve and maintain Russia’s position as a superpower, rather than a genuine effort to halt the conflict.
  • Quote (09:35): "Putin is testing the waters to see how far he can go."

Attribution:

• Daniel Estrin, NPR’s correspondent in Kyiv, provided detailed reporting and analysis (06:48 – 10:12).
• Additional insights from Eleanor Beardsley and Amelia Martinez.

---

3. Gaza Ceasefire Collapses After Deadly Israeli Airstrikes

Overview: A fragile ceasefire in Gaza was shattered by a surprise Israeli attack, resulting in over 400 fatalities, including Hamas officials and civilians. This escalation raises concerns about the stability of peace efforts and the broader implications for the region.

Key Points:

• Deadly Attack:

  • The surprise attack by Israel broke the ceasefire, marking one of the deadliest days in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
  • Quote (10:26): "It was one of the deadliest days of the entire Gaza war, with more than 400 killed."

• Israeli Motivation:

  • Israel aims to pressure Hamas into agreeing to new terms for a ceasefire and the release of additional hostages. The move is also politically motivated for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to solidify his coalition and pass a national budget amidst internal pressures.
  • Quote (12:17): "Returning to war allows him to convince his far right ally Itamar Bengvir to rejoin the coalition."

• Hamas Response:

  • Hamas has maintained its stance, demanding a return to the original terms of the Biden-brokered ceasefire and initiating discussions for a permanent end to the war.
  • Quote (12:19): "The group's main demands still remain... to begin discussing the permanent end of the war."

• Public and Political Repercussions:

  • Many Israelis oppose the return to conflict, fearing for the safety of hostages and the broader humanitarian impact.
  • Quote (10:26): "Many in the Israeli public are opposed to the return to war."

Attribution:

• Emmy Martinez, NPR’s correspondent in Tel Aviv, delivered comprehensive coverage and insights (10:48 – 13:37).
• Daniel Estrin provided additional context and analysis.

---

Additional Stories

• Chief Justice John Roberts' Stance on Impeachment:
  • In a notable development, Chief Justice John Roberts criticized President Trump’s suggestion to impeach a federal judge over deportation rulings, advocating for legal disagreements to be resolved through the judicial system rather than political means.
  • Quote (13:47): "Impeachment is not the answer to legal disagreement."

---

Conclusion: Today's episode of Up First delves into high-stakes political and international conflicts, highlighting the intricate balance of power, legal boundaries, and the quest for peace amidst ongoing tensions. From the U.S. judiciary pushing back against executive overreach to the fragile and often shattered ceasefires in global hotspots, NPR provides a comprehensive overview to keep you informed on the critical issues shaping our world.

---

For more in-depth stories and updates, subscribe to Up First+ and support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.

Transcript

[Amartinez]

I was just asked. Back boys are in sync.

[Layla Falden]

Back boys.

[Amartinez]

I mean, Backstreet Boys. Sorry, Backstreet Boys. That's a tough question, one that you'd have to tell it to my heart.

[Layla Falden]

You are so corny. A federal judge says Elon Musk did not have the authority to DISMANTLE A key U.S. agency.

[Amartinez]

Critics of the unelected billionaire hope it reins in his influence in government. But will it change what's already been done?

[Layla Falden]

I'm Layla Falden. That's Amartinez. 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 launch strikes at each other. So is this agreement changing anything?

[Amartinez]

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.

[Fatma Tanis]

Foreign.

[Amartinez]

This message comes from BetterHelp. Therapy can be expensive, but at BetterHelp.

[Fatma Tanis]

They believe therapy should feel accessible, not.

[Amartinez]

Like a luxury, which is why they.

[Fatma Tanis]

Offer quality care at a price that.

[Amartinez]

Makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it, and.

[Fatma Tanis]

Now it's within reach.

[Amartinez]

Visit betterhelp.com NPR to get 10% off your first month.

[Fatma Tanis]

That's betterhelp.com NPR this message comes from PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company. You know that moment when things take an unexpected turn and you get that sudden sinking feeling that maybe it could have been avoided? Pemco Insurance wants to help you avoid that feeling by sharing prevention tips that empower you to prevent some of life's preventable pitfalls. Because Pemco's commitment to their customers goes beyond the moment of a claim, it's about being with their customers every day. [e-mail] Prevention this message comes from Thuma. Create your oasis with Thuma, a modern design company that specializes in furniture and home goods, by stripping away everything but the essential. Thuma makes elevated beds with premium materials and intentional details with clean lines, subtle curves and minimalist style. The Thuma bed collection is available in four signature finishes to match any design aesthetic. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to Thuma Co NPR A.

[Amartinez]

Federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency likely violated the Constitution when they effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development.

[Layla Falden]

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, of its former self.

[Amartinez]

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.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

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. Now, this case is one of several, several other ongoing lawsuits around the dismantling of usaid. And it stands out because it directly sued Elon Musk and Doge. Whereas other lawsuits have named President Trump and senior officials as well. The defense argued that Musk and Doge were only advising USAID officials and that the agency's leaders were actually responsible for what happened.

[Amartinez]

Yeah, but the judge disagreed.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Yeah, he didn't buy it. Judge Theodore chuang wrote a 68 page paper opinion detailing why. He said that the evidence showed that, quote, Musk made the decisions to shut down USAID's headquarters and website, even though he lacked the authority to make that decision. He said that Musk and Doge team members likely violated the Constitution in multiple ways and deprived Congress of its authority to decide what to do with an agency that it created.

[Amartinez]

Okay, so what does this all mean now for usaid?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, there's not really much left of usaid. Most of its contracts have been terminated. The staff have been whittled down to just a couple of hundred people. Now, the judge has blocked Musk from any further steps to shut down usaid, and he ordered DOGE to reinstate access for current staff to emails and other electronic systems. But the impact of this ruling is quite minimal. It won't restore the work that the agency was doing before all of this. Humanitarian and development assistance programs, for example, are still cut.

[Amartinez]

Okay, now, what kind of reaction have you heard from this?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Well, people who are critical of Elon Musk and Doge are saying that this is a big deal because there are concerns about what Musk and his team are doing across the federal government and what their authority is. And they say that the administration has been sending mixed messages. For example, President Trump has publicly praised Musk as he and his team gut federal agencies. Trump has said Musk is doing an unbelievable job to eliminate waste and improve efficiency. But in these lawsuits, we're hearing something else. Government lawyers are saying that Musk is not in charge, that he's only there in an advisory role. Now, NPR reached out to the White House to get more clarity on this, but we have not heard back from them. And Norm Eisen, who leads the group representing the plaintiffs in this lawsuit, called the ruling an important victory against Elon Musk and his attack not only on usaid, but the US Government and the Constitution. He said, and of course, as you mentioned earlier, President Trump weighed in yesterday and said, quote, I guarantee you we will be appealing. So there's going to be more news to follow on this case.

[Amartinez]

Yeah, more than likely. That's NPR's Fatma Tennis. Thanks a lot.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Thank you.

[Amartinez]

Russia and Ukraine launched strikes targeting each other's infrastructure last night.

[Layla Falden]

This comes hours after President Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, announced a limited ceasefire in Ukraine, where Putin agreed to stop targeting Ukraine's energy facilities for 30 days. That's far short of the end to fighting on land, air and sea that the US And Ukraine agreed to last week.

[Amartinez]

With us to explain where all of this stands is. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley joins us from Kiev. So, Eleanor, a deal between Presidents Trump and Putin. What does this mean for the war in Ukraine? Will that change anything?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, so far, nothing has changed because this is what the skies of Kyiv sounded like last night. I held my phone out our window so you can hear the air defense shooting down drones, you know, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he's been seeking a ceasefire to end attacks on people and civilian infrastructure, not just energy infrastructure. And he said on social media that these nighttime attacks by Russia are destroying the normal life of Ukrainians. He said the fact that these attacks continued right after Trump and Putin's call showed that maximum pressure must be put on Russia for the sake of peace.

[Amartinez]

What has Zelensky said about the possible ceasefire deal and Trump's conversation with Vladimir Putin?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, he does not trust Putin. And there seems to be a constant fear in Ukraine now of being thrown under the bus by the Trump administration, you know, being forced to make concessions to capitulate. Zelensky had a long online press conference with journalists last night. And clearly the length of the two and a half hour call between Presidents Trump and Putin was unnerving for him. And he was underwhelmed by the very limited agreement that came out of it. But he tried to show Optimism, because he has no choice, really. Let's listen. You know, he's saying this is the first step, and there are no other steps so far. Then let's hear the details of how to proceed. And we will. And he just said he really hopes that President Trump will be able to put as much pressure on Putin as possible.

[Amartinez]

But how far apart you think Ukraine and Russia are on the terms of a possible deal?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, very far apart, actually. Analysts say there will have to be major concessions on both sides, and so far, the Russian demands are maximalist. For example, Putin wants land that his army doesn't even fully control in provinces that he's already annexed and is calling Russian. That's a red line for Ukraine. And Putin has said he will only accept a deal if Ukraine stops getting military assistance from its allies. Ukraine and the EU have rejected that.

[Amartinez]

So you mentioned the eu. That's the other party in this whole thing, the rest of Europe. What are they saying?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and they said they will absolutely keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine. And Macron said any ceasefire must be verifiable and Ukrainians must be at the table. You know, Macron has said many times that Europe cannot let Russia win this war. Here he is speaking. Yesterday, he said we will continue supporting Ukraine in this war of aggression because we know from our experience what it means to be occupied. And of course, he's talking about the Nazi occupation of France in World War II.

[Amartinez]

Yeah. You know, U.S. officials have been trying to reassure EU allies that they will be involved in any peace agreement. But the thing is, Eleanor, I mean, they haven't been so. I mean, how do people feel about that?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, this is deeply shaking the continent. There's a view that Putin is stalling so he can continue the war and that he's playing with Trump, who Europeans believe is naive, has no experience with Putin, and wants a peace deal so badly he'll do anything. The former French ambassador to the US Went on French TV last night, Gerard Aro, and he sort of summed up the sentiment. He said Putin is just signing onto the peace deal not to annoy Trump, but he's testing the waters to see far how far he can go. He says it's Putin's dream for Russia to be treated as a superpower, dealing one on one with the American president over the heads of the Europeans.

[Amartinez]

That's NPR's Eleanor Beardsley in Kyiv. Thanks a lot.

[Daniel Estrin]

Thank you. A.

[Amartinez]

Israeli airstrikes are continuing today in Gaza after Israel broke the ceasefire yesterday.

[Layla Falden]

It was one of the deadliest days of the entire Gaza war, with more than 400 killed. Those included five Hamas officials and women and children killed in their homes overnight. Israel says it wants Hamas to agree to a new ceasefire deal and release more hostages. But Hamas hasn't changed its position and many in the Israeli public are opposed to the return to war.

[Amartinez]

So why is Israel doing it? NPR's Daniel Estrin is the line from Tel Aviv with new details this morning about the attack. Daniel? So this was a surprise attack. So explain how it all came about.

[Emmy Martinez]

Well, a senior Hamas official told us that mediators were actually holding ceasefire talks with Hamas in the wee hours of the morning Tuesday when these surprise Israeli strikes began. And an Israeli official tells us deception was the point. It began around 2:10 in the morning. Israel launched its first strikes. Took about 10 minutes. This happened after weeks of preparations. These plans were kept inside a closed circle of the Israeli military. And it came as a surprise to many Israelis and the public. Too many recently freed hostages spoke out yesterday about this return to war. We counted more than half of the living Israeli hostages recently freed by Hamas said the move endangered the lives of other hostages still in Gaza.

[Amartinez]

What is Israel's rationale for doing this, for deceiving Hamas and launching this surprise attack?

[Emmy Martinez]

Well, the old ceasefire deal was struck under the Biden administration, and Israel sees itself as having leeway to try to extract new ceasefire terms under President Trump. That's exactly what Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff tried to do. He presented a proposal last week for new ceasefire terms for Hamas to release more hostages before the talks to end the war began. And Israel said it's returning to war now to pressure Hamas to agree to those terms.

[Amartinez]

And how is Hamas responding to that pressure?

[Emmy Martinez]

Well, a Hamas official tells us that the group's main demands still remain, and those main demands are to go back to the original terms of the deal brokered under Biden and to begin discussing the permanent end of the war. You have to understand a, that in recent months, aid supplies were surging back to Gaza under the ceasefire and Hamas was beginning to recover. And Israel saw that Hamas was benefiting from the lack of war and from talks continuing in recent weeks without giving up more hostages. And so here we are.

[Amartinez]

Yeah. So but how does this move, Daniel, maybe benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically inside Israel?

[Emmy Martinez]

It does benefit him politically because he has this deadline. He has to pass a national budget in two weeks or his government could collapse. And so returning to war allows him to convince his far right ally Itamar Bengvir to rejoin the coalition. Now it strengthens his coalition. He can support a new budget. It allows Netanyahu to distract from a move he tried to fire his domestic security chief, which is sparking street protests. We could see this round of strikes in Gaza lasting another couple weeks until Netanyahu can pass a budget and until he has more flexibility to maybe resume a ceasefire then.

[Amartinez]

That's NPR's Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv. Daniel, we appreciate all the reporting on this. Thanks.

[Emmy Martinez]

You're welcome.

[Amartinez]

Chief Justice John Roberts says impeachment is not the answer to legal disagreement. In a rare rebuke of the president, he's pushing back on President Trump's call to impeach a federal judge after Judge James Boasberg ordered a temporary halt to the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. In a social media post, Trump called the judge a, quote, radical left lunatic and demanded his removal. And that's up first for Wednesday, March 19th.

[Layla Falden]

Emmy Martinez, and I'm Layla Falden. There's an easy way to stay connected to news and podcasts from the NPR network, the NPR app. Hear community coverage from your local station, stories from around the world and podcast suggestions based on what you like. Download the NPR app in your App Store.

[Amartinez]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Jane Greenholsh, Ryland Barton, Russell Lewis, Alice Wolfley and Mohamed El Bardisi. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Destiny Adams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Misha Hyness, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

[Layla Falden]

Foreign.

[Fatma Tanis]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Bolen Branch. Change your sleep with the softness of Boll Branch's 100% organic cotton sheets. Feel the difference with 15% off your first set of [e-mail] with code NPR exclusions apply. See site for details. This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less. And all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for [e-mail] Switch this message comes from Bombas. Their slippers are designed with cushioning so every step feels marshmallowy soft. Plus, for every item purchased, Bombas donates to someone in need. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off your first order.