A federal appeals court’s decision on Thursday maintained the viability of a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s freeze of billions of dollars in foreign aid. The court opted not to directly review the challenge but permitted the involved nonprofits to pursue their case in a lower court, thus sustaining the legal battle.

The challenge revolves around the Trump administration’s initiative to halt significant amounts of foreign aid, a move that has sparked legal contention. While the appeals court refrained from an immediate review, its decision enables the nonprofits opposing the aid freeze to persist with their legal arguments in a lower court setting.

Legal experts note that the court’s ruling to keep the challenge active signifies an ongoing legal confrontation over the administration’s foreign aid policy. The decision sustains the momentum of the legal process and ensures that the dispute will continue to be litigated in the judicial system.

In response to the court’s decision, a spokesperson for the nonprofits engaged in the challenge expressed optimism, stating, “We are encouraged by the opportunity to further present our case in the lower court and seek a resolution that upholds the integrity of foreign aid disbursement.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has not issued a public statement regarding the appeals court’s ruling to allow the challenge to proceed. The legal battle over the foreign aid freeze underscores the complexities and legal nuances surrounding the administration’s policies in this domain.