The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a pivotal defeat to the Trump administration by mandating the release of nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds that had been frozen under an executive order. The court ruled in a close 5-4 decision to uphold a lower court's directive requiring the administration to comply with payment obligations to contractors and grant recipients involved with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department.

This ruling notably diverges from previous expectations that the conservative majority would uniformly support Trump’s funding freeze initiatives. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberal justices in siding against the president. The dissenting opinion, led by Justice Samuel Alito, expressed astonishment at the ruling, criticizing what he termed an overreach of judicial power.

Prior to this decision, Judge Amir Ali had issued a temporary restraining order on February 13 prohibiting the Trump administration from halting funding for completed work. After the administration failed to comply, Ali set a deadline for payments, leading to further legal maneuvering from the White House. Trump's legal team argued that the ruling undermined presidential authority over federal spending decisions. Despite their contentions, the court's majority indicated a willingness to scrutinize the scope of executive power, signaling potential limitations on the president's authority moving forward.

The Supreme Court's ruling has thrown a spotlight on Trump’s controversial management of foreign aid and investment policies, following a series of rapid executive actions aimed at reshaping governmental structures. Critics claim that these moves have disrupted crucial humanitarian initiatives, resulting in widespread service reductions and layoffs among organizations like HIAS and others serving vulnerable populations.

In a parallel development, Judge Ali has ordered the Trump administration to pay the owed funds by Monday, further thawing a funding freeze that had considerable ripple effects on global humanitarian efforts. This combination of judicial actions marks a significant escalation in the legal battles surrounding Trump’s domestic policies.

Your support for impartial journalism helps keep you informed. For the latest updates on this story, visit ABC News and HuffPost.