Fact Check: Conservatives Were Furious When Barrett Rejected Trump's Foreign Aid Freeze
What We Know
On March 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against President Trump's attempt to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid, a decision that drew significant backlash from conservative circles. The ruling was a 5-4 decision in which Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson—to uphold a lower court's order requiring the administration to resume payments for foreign aid obligations already made by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (GovExec, Reuters).
The legal question at the heart of the case was whether the president has the constitutional authority to withhold funds appropriated by Congress. The ruling indicated that the Supreme Court would not allow the freeze to continue while the legal battle unfolded (GovExec).
Analysis
The decision to reject Trump's foreign aid freeze was met with immediate and intense criticism from conservative commentators and Trump supporters. Some described Barrett as a "rattled law professor" and even labeled her as "evil" on social media (CNN). This backlash reflects a broader concern among conservatives about Barrett's alignment with liberal justices on significant rulings, especially given her previous reputation as a staunch conservative.
While the dissenting opinion from Justice Samuel Alito criticized the majority for what he termed "judicial hubris," many legal conservatives, including prominent figures like Leonard Leo, defended Barrett's decision as a procedural matter rather than a substantive ideological shift (CNN). Leo noted that Barrett remains a distinguished conservative jurist despite this particular ruling, emphasizing that disagreements among justices are not uncommon.
The reaction from conservative circles illustrates the heightened expectations placed on Barrett and her fellow justices, particularly those appointed by Trump. The ruling not only highlights the complexities of judicial decision-making but also the potential for backlash when justices do not align with partisan expectations.
Conclusion
The claim that "conservatives were furious when Barrett rejected Trump's foreign aid freeze" is True. The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the lower court's ruling led to significant criticism from conservative commentators and Trump supporters, indicating a strong emotional response to Barrett's vote. This reaction underscores the polarized nature of contemporary judicial politics and the expectations placed on justices by their political allies.
