Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 176

Warriors’ Curry scores a 3-book deal, starting with a “personal reflection” on his life and career

By HILLEL ITALIE

NEW YORK (AP) — Steph Curry has a deal with a Random House Publishing Group imprint that you could call a 3-point play.

The NBA superstar has agreed to release three books through One World, beginning Sept. 9 with “Shot Ready,” which Curry is calling a “personal reflection” on his life on and off the court. The book also includes more than 100 photographs.

“I want to use my story to connect with people of different backgrounds and help them solve the puzzle of their own potential,” Curry said in a statement released Saturday through One World. “This book is a celebration of the work that happens in the shadows, the creativity that fuels every move, and the mindfulness that keeps me grounded. I hope ‘Shot Ready’ inspires readers to embrace their own journey, trust the process, and always find joy in the pursuit of excellence.”

Curry’s book will be published in partnership with Unanimous Media, which he co-founded with Erick Peyton. Curry’s other publishing projects have included two picture books with Penguin Young Readers.

Recipe: When life gives you strawberries, make preserves

When grocery stores offer specials on fresh strawberries this time of year, I jump at the chance to make Strawberry Preserves with Balsamic Vinegar. The balsamic vinegar, aged in special fruitwood barrels, pairs with berries, resulting in a magical dish that balances sweetness, earthiness, and tartness.

Drizzle it over chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano placed in spoons or spread it on rustic toast (or crackers) that are spread with soft goat cheese.

Strawberry Preserves with Balsamic Vinegar is a dish that balances sweetness, earthiness and tartness. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)Strawberry Preserves with Balsamic Vinegar

Yield: About 2 1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS

2 cups hulled and quartered fresh strawberries

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons water

For serving: Cubes of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese or toasted rustic bread (or crackers) spread with soft goat cheese

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1. In a deep, medium-size heavy-bottomed saucepan bring strawberries, sugar, balsamic vinegar and water to boil on high heat, stirring, and skim surface (watch carefully to prevent a boil-over). Reduce heat to low and simmer mixture, stirring and skimming foam occasionally, 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened and translucent (you may need to add 5 to 10 minutes). The skimming process can be challenging — just get off as much foam as you can without obsessing — a little foam left among the berries won’t matter.

2. Remove pan from heat and cool completely. Preserves keep, covered and chilled, up to 1 month.

3. To serve, place a cube of Parmigiano Reggiano in several spoons placed on a plate or platter (Asian-style soup spoons or tableware teaspoons). Top with about a teaspoon of preserves. Or serve atop toast or crackers spread with soft goat cheese.

Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at CathyThomasCooks.com.

Horoscopes March 29, 2025: Lucy Lawless, set your sights on self-improvement

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Megan Hilty, 44; Lucy Lawless, 57; Amy Sedaris, 64; Eric Idle, 82.

Happy Birthday: Set your sights on self-improvement, personal progress and lifestyle changes centered around activities, people and projects that make you feel good about yourself and your contributions. Look for openings that help you segue into positions that allow you to make a difference and overcome pitfalls standing between you and the life you want to live. Let your mind wander, and encourage your creativity to lead the way. Your numbers are 8, 13, 21, 24, 27, 34, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your thoughts and feelings. You must do the legwork to achieve something new or make positive lifestyle changes. Reach out to people in the know and pick their brains. The information you gather will help you fine-tune your plans, giving you the best chance to achieve your goals. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Position yourself strategically, and revise your plans to ensure you can reach your objective with time to compensate for last-minute changes. Handle matters personally. Pay attention, and you’ll recognize when someone or something is excessive or exaggerated. Make your surroundings aesthetically pleasing, easing stress and encouraging rest. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Turn your attention to learning, gaining experience and connecting with people who share your concerns and interests. Being active will push you into situations that make you think and participate in things you may not have previously bothered with. Explore what’s available, and reconstruct your routine to include what resonates with you most. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put your energy where it counts. Rethink your financial strategy and look for investments or budgets conducive to helping you achieve your long-term plans. An unusual concept will compel you to look closer, adjust and implement what you devise into your daily routine. Update your appearance, socialize and embrace romance. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Bang on doors to get answers. It’s your responsibility to look out for your interests and to ensure you make good choices. Refrain from giving control to someone else when doing things for yourself will lead to the best outcome. Put your thinking cap on, research and fend for yourself. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Strategize and find ways to use your attributes to eliminate any medical, financial or contractual issues you face. A direct approach will deter others from trying to take over. Emotions will surface over joint ventures or shared expenses. Think before you act to avoid insult or a blow to your ego. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look, and you will find the path that leads to solidarity. Unleash your persuasive powers using charm, insight and intelligence. Examine partnership possibilities, but don’t be fooled by big talkers or someone’s overpowering enthusiasm. Listen, dissect and choose to take the path that suits you. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A change will do you good. Participate in something that interests you: a day trip, a course or spending time with people who make you think. Welcome challenges and discussions that help you help yourself. A social occasion will lead to a change of perspective and direction. Love and romance are in the stars. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll be torn between what you want to do and what you should do. Distance yourself from anyone who adds to your confusion or tries to lead you in a direction that can harm you. Protect your home, reputation and meaningful relationships from loss. Keep your eye on investments, medical issues and anyone trying to exploit you. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Be careful who you partner with and what you agree to do. Talks can lead to situations that back you into a corner. Listen to alternatives, but don’t sign up for something that doesn’t benefit you. Misinformation is apparent; verify what you hear and get what you want in writing. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take control of money matters. Don’t change what’s not broken. Be intentional regarding home and personal maintenance, but put a cap on how much you are willing to spend before negotiating a price. Take time to summarize intricate details before reviving a plan that lacks substance. Smart moves require thought and precision. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Review your options and back the change that makes the most sense. A hands-on approach to life, love and happiness is necessary if you want to be successful. Refuse to leave what matters to you most in someone else’s hands. Put your energy behind the plan that suits you best. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, mindful and innovative. You are dedicated and proactive.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.

2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.

3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.

4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.

5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

‘I’ll feel it for a while’: Curry details pelvic injury after returning to Warriors

NEW ORLEANS — The pelvic contusion that knocked Steph Curry out for the prior two games before he returned to life the Warriors over New Orleans didn’t bother him, but he did feel it all game.

“I’ll feel it for a while, but I can play — I can’t make it worse,” Curry said.

He doesn’t know how long it’ll take for the discomfort to completely subside. When asked if it perks up more on lateral movement, or with explosive actions, the two-time MVP said, “pretty much everything.”

Still, Curry isn’t concerned about the lingering injury’s effects.

“It’s not at a level where I’m out there worried about it,” Curry said after the Warriors’ 111-95 win. “As long as I don’t fall, I’ll be fine.”

Even if the pain isn’t relieved, that’s a relief for the Warriors (42-31), who have to regain their swagger — and shooting stroke — with nine games left as they fight to avoid the play-in round.

This latest injury piles onto a string of nagging ailments Curry has dealt with this season. He has tweaked his ankle twice, toughed through bilateral knee tendinitis and played through a sprained thumb.

He suffered the injury falling hard on his back-side on a drive late last week against the Toronto Raptors. It reminded me of when he fell into the stairs in Houston in 2021, but that was worse; he had a hairline fracture then, while this is just a “deep, serious contusion.”

Curry led the Warriors with 23 points and turned in a 5-for-16 shooting split from 3 that looks pristine by comparison. The Warriors missed 17 of their first 20 3-point tries and as a whole shot 23.6% from deep.

“We’ve got to make shots,” Draymond Green said. “We haven’t as of late. But I’d rather that happen now than in a few weeks.”

Although Curry, Green and Steve Kerr concurred that the Warriors generated clean looks, it was the second straight Golden State shot under 25% from behind the arc.

“I think we’re getting great looks,” Green said. “We missed (22) 3s in the first half — I think 19 of them were great looks. Just missed them. So I liked the shots we created. I think the ball can hop a little more. It’s sticking a little bit at times.”

Friday was only Curry’s second game played in the past 10 days. He sat against Milwaukee because of what Kerr described as mental and physical fatigue. He said he felt physically good before the pelvic contusion.

Having about a week of rest and recovery had its benefits, especially ahead of what could be a deep playoff run, but it also forced Curry to regain his timing and endurance to play 34 minutes.

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Against the Pelicans without almost all of their regular rotation players, the Warriors committed eight first half turnovers but only two the rest of the way.

Jonathan Kuminga — who banged knees late with center Yves Missi — logged 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 23 minutes off the bench. But he was the only Warrior who was a negative in the plus-minus category. The team is still working to integrate him back into the fold in the Jimmy Butler era.

Moses Moody, who was key in the Warriors’ excellent stretch after the Butler trade, is now six for his last 32 (19%) from deep, perhaps a victim of clunkier spacing of late.

Like Curry, the Warriors are working on rediscovering their stride.

“Second half was much better with the ball movement and flow,” Kerr said. “Defense was good. All in all, positive outcome, positive effort on a night where we’re clearly trying to get our rhythm back as a group. I think tonight will lead to that. I think we’ll be much better in San Antonio.”

Warriors outlast depleted Pelicans in Curry’s return from injury

NEW ORLEANS — Steph Curry returned after missing two games with a pelvic contusion, dropping 23 points to lift the Warriors in a sluggish game.

Curry scored 13 second-quarter points to prevent a slow Warriors start from being disqualifying. He went 5-for-16 from 3-point land while his teammates combined to shoot 8-for-39 from deep.

The Warriors (42-31) lost the two games Curry missed before outlasting New Orleans, 111-95. The Pelicans were without Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy.

All three of the Warriors, Clippers and Timberwolves won, keeping the race for the sixth seed essentially gridlocked. Each team has 42 wins.

Curry had pushed to return for Jimmy Butler’s homecoming game in Miami earlier in the week, but felt a snag at the end of his workout. Even though he shot just 7-for-21 from the floor, he looked fine physically after about a full week between games.

Curry’s return to the starting lineup made the Warriors nearly whole; they’re only missing Gary Payton II, who’s out with a partially torn ligament in his thumb.

The two-time MVP looked sharp right away in terms of activity and movement, but the Warriors nonetheless fell behind with another slow start against a less talented team. New Orleans sent two to Curry on ball-screens, forcing the ball out of his hands. He picked up four impressive dimes early, but the Warriors missed their first 10 3-pointers — many of which generated by Curry’s unselfishness — to fall behind 14-2.

Jose Alvarado also picked up Curry full-court while instigating conflict with Draymond Green. On two separate moments in the first quarter, the two exchanged words after fouls.

If the feisty point guard’s objective was to muck the game up, he succeeded. Or at least some external forces succeeded for him. The Pelicans missed two dunks and hit the side of the backboard on a floater while Jonathan Kuminga missed an easy shot at the rim through contact and Brandin Podziemski passed up a shot at the first-quarter buzzer. In one helter-skelter sequence, both teams committed a combined three turnovers in about 10 seconds.

The first half was as ugly as you’ll see in the NBA. The Warriors missed 17 of their first 20 3-pointers and never really stopped settling. The teams combined for 17 turnovers and 19 fouls — including three by Green.

The Warriors were much sharper on both ends in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 20-9 run. But they stumbled in the minutes Curry rested as Brandin Podziemski couldn’t strike a shooting rhythm as a lead playmaker and the team continued to hoist outside jumpers.

Still, the Warriors committed just two second-half turnovers, taking care of the ball and thereby their lead.

Quinten Post stuck a pair of jumpers as part of an 13-3 run to start the fourth and earn breathing room. After a long slog with Curry on the bench, the Warriors put it together, stamping the blitz with a Jimmy Butler and-1.

Buddy Hield converted a four-point play to give the Warriors a 15-point lead and they never turned back from there even as Green fouled out with three minutes to play.

Steve Kerr called this game the biggest of the Warriors’ season leading up to Friday night. Golden State can’t afford to spiral at this point of the season, with the West bunched up atop the play-in picture. Even if they wobbled, the Warriors bought more time to truly get right.

Steph Curry returns to Warriors lineup vs. Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — Steph Curry returned for what head coach Steve Kerr has called the biggest game of the Warriors’ season.

Curry, 37, missed the prior two games — losses in Atlanta and Miami — with a pelvic contusion. He suffered the injury last week against the Toronto Raptors.

The reason Golden State’s game was so significant is because the Warriors have strung together a few lackluster performances and have slipped from sixth to seventh place in the Western Conference. Because they’ve lost or underperformed against teams who have substantially less talent than them — even in games without Curry — they have no margin for error. in the home stretch of the season.

The Pelicans certainly qualify. New Orleans (20-53) was without Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones.

The Warriors have learned their lesson the hard way, this year and in seasons past: No matter who’s out there, you can’t overlook NBA players.

“You prepare your own team,” Kerr said pregame. “You don’t worry about the other team. Our guys know how often this happens, where guys are out on the other team and how well everyone else plays because they’re getting opportunities. We know that’s what’s coming tonight. They’ll play with great energy. All the guys who are getting minutes are going to be excited about that. It’s on us to bring our own energy and our own execution.”

Curry led the Warriors’ preferred starting lineup, with him running point next to Brandin Podziemski in the backcourt and a frontline of Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Draymond Green. The depleted Pelicans started Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins, Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and Yves Missi.

Curry is averaging 24.2 points and six assists while leading the league in both 3-pointers made and attempted per game.

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The news that the Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins sent shockwaves through the Warriors’ morning shootaround at Smoothie King Center.

Jenkins, one of the longest tenured coaches in the Association and a person who has had infamous moments in the Warriors-Grizzlies recent rivalry, was relieved of his duties with nine games remaining in the season. The Grizzlies rank fifth in the West and Jenkins is the winningest coach in franchise history. The move reportedly left players shocked.

Kerr, too.

“It’s shocking, really,” Kerr said. “Taylor’s a great coach, done an amazing job in Memphis. So, it came out of nowhere for us. We’re not involved, obviously. Just from afar, it’s shocking. Nine games left in the season. Yeah, it doesn’t add up if you’re on the outside looking in.”

US Naval Academy ends affirmative action in admissions

By BRIAN WITTE, Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. Naval Academy will no longer consider race, ethnicity or sex as a factor for admission to the service institution, a response to an executive order by President Donald Trump, according to federal court documents made public Friday.

The change in policy was made in February by Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the academy’s superintendent, in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January, according to a court filing by the U.S. Justice Department in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The president’s order on Jan. 27 said that “every element of the Armed Forces should operate free from any preference based on race or sex.” It also directed the secretary of defense to conduct an internal review with respect to all “activities designed to promote a race- or sex-based preferences system,” including reviews at the service academies.

“Under revised internal guidance issued by the Superintendent on Feb. 14, 2025, neither race, ethnicity, nor sex can be considered as a factor for admission at any point during the admissions process, including qualification and acceptance,” according to the court filing made public Friday.

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The decision comes after a federal judge ruled in December that the academy could continue considering race in its admissions process. In that case, the judge found that military cohesion and other national security factors mean the school should not be subjected to the same standards as civilian universities.

During a two-week bench trial in September, attorneys for the academy argued that prioritizing diversity in the military makes it stronger, more effective and more widely respected.

The case against the policy was brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions, which was appealing the judge’s decision.

The Justice Department asked in the filing on Friday to suspend the current briefing schedule in the case while the parties consider the change in the academy’s policy.

‘The parties require a reasonable amount of time to discuss the details of the Academy’s new policy and to consider the appropriate next steps for this litigation, including whether this litigation is now moot and, if so, whether the district court judgment should be vacated,” the Justice Department wrote.

Students for Fair Admissions also brought the lawsuit challenging affirmative action that resulted in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2023.

The high court’s conservative majority broadly prohibited the consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions, ending a long-standing practice meant to boost opportunities for historically marginalized groups and sending shock waves through higher education. But it carved out a potential exemption for military academies, suggesting that national security interests could affect the legal analysis.

Students for Fair Admissions later sued the Annapolis-based Naval Academy, challenging the exemption. But Judge Richard Bennett rejected their arguments, saying that the school had “established a compelling national security interest in a diverse officer corps.”

Attorneys for the group argued during trial that prioritizing minority candidates is unfair to qualified white applicants and that cohesion should arise from other sources such as training and command structure.

The academy argued in that case that its admissions process considers many factors, including grades, extracurricular activities, life experience and socioeconomic status, according to court testimony. Race often played no role in the process, but sometimes it came under consideration in a “limited fashion,” attorneys for the academy wrote in court papers.

Trump commutes the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson on Friday, just before he was due to report to prison for a nearly 10-year sentence in a financial conspiracy case.

Watson was convicted last year in a closely watched case that showcased the implosion of an ambitious startup company.

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The commutation was confirmed by a senior White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the decision and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Breon Peace, who was serving as the Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney at the time, said after the trial that the jury determined that “Watson was a con man who told lie upon lie upon lie to deceive investors into buying stock in his company.”

Ozy Media “collapsed under the weight of Watson’s dishonest schemes,” Peace said.

Trump has been aggressively using his presidential powers to commute sentences and pardon people who he believes were treated unfairly by the justice system.

Veterans Transition Center’s Lightfighter Village in Marina complete

MARINA – Years in the making, Lightfighter Village in Marina has been completed, marking a milestone for the Veterans Transition Center in creating a place homeless veterans will be able to live in perpetuity, with no transitional requirements, while they continue to receive case management and access to support services.

Kurt Schake, CEO of the Veterans Transition Center, the nonprofit organization that has been serving homeless veterans and their families since 1998, said his organization is “elated” about the completion of the project.

“We now have the ability to serve more veterans,” said Schake, who added that with seven different VTC housing programs, there are now 184 beds for veterans.

Lightfighter Village is a 100% affordable, the three-story, 71-unit housing structure on 2.3 acres situated on Hayes Circle in Marina that was approved by the city of Marina in November 2018 and has been planned for about a decade.

The Lightfighter Village project is a partnership between the Veterans Transition Center and EAH Housing Inc.

“The completion of Lightfighter Village is a proud and meaningful moment for EAH Housing,” said Chief Real Estate Officer at EAH Housing Welton Jordan. “This community isn’t just about providing housing, it’s about honoring our veterans with the stability, dignity and support they deserve.”

Schake said the first tenants started to move into the 70 units this month with one unit reserved for the manager of the complex.

According to EAH Housing, it is actively leasing up the property now and planning a grand opening for fall in conjunction with Veterans Day.

“Seeing residents move in and begin rebuilding their lives makes all the hard work worthwhile. This project’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration, made possible by our partnership with the Veterans Transition Center and the support of local, state and federal leaders,” said Jordan. “Lightfighter Village proves that when we come together with a shared mission, we can create real, lasting change for those who served our country.”

Jordan said in an earlier report that since 2015, EAH Housing has worked in partnership with the city of Marina and the Veterans Transition Center of California to bring much needed affordable veteran housing to Monterey County.

“As the general contractor on this meaningful project, we had the privilege of helping bring this vision to life – constructing a supportive, high-quality community featuring studio and family apartments along with amenities such as a fitness room, computer lab, meditation space, pet wash station and more,” said Huff Construction Company earlier this week in a post on social media.

Huff Construction went on to say thank you to its client, EAH Housing, and co-developer, the Veterans Transition Center of California, for trusting Huff Construction Company, Inc. to build Lightfighter Village.

“We’re honored to contribute to a community that gives back to those who have served.,” said Huff Construction.

The Lightfighter Village is a 100% affordable housing project, and was approved by the city of Marina in November 2018. The project is something that has been planned for about a decade and will increase the Veterans Transition Center’s on-site housing stock. (EAH Housing)

Lightfighter Village is within a half-mile of transit, employment, shopping and the Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense outpatient clinic as well as the Veterans Transition Center headquarters at Martinez Hall on what was once the Fort Ord Army base. The military installation was shuttered under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of Congress in 1994. Land from the closed Army base was conveyed to the cities of Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Del Rey Oaks and the County of Monterey.

Lightfighter Village was fully funded for about $50 million from a number of sources including National Equity Fund/Local Initiatives Support Corporation Grant, Monterey County — No Place Like Home California Department of Housing Community Development, No Place Like Home Capitalized Operating Subsidy Reserve, California Housing Accelerator Tier 2, Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program, HUD Sec 811 Capital Grant and Federal Home Loan Bank — and San Francisco Affordable Housing Program.

EAH Housing is a nonprofit corporation which develops, manages and operates affordable housing for low-income families, older adults and persons with disabilities, special needs or both, in California and Hawaii. It was founded in 1968.

EAH Property Management operates all properties in the EAH development portfolio and will be managing Lightfighter Village.

Of the total number of units, 64 will be studio apartments at roughly 415 square feet, and seven two-bedroom units of about 850 square feet, including one manager’s unit. Each unit features energy-efficient appliances, window coverings and walk-in closets. The structure will include a community room, garden, bike parking, on-site parking, manager’s office, computer lab, a pet wash station, laundry facility, meditation room, fitness room and resident lounges.

Lightfighter Village is situated on Hayes Circle, within a half-mile of transit, employment, shopping and the Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense outpatient clinic as well as the Veterans Transition Center headquarters at Martinez Hall on what was once the Fort Ord Army base. (EAH Housing)

Lightfighter Village is pursuing GreenPoint Gold certification, showcasing a strong dedication to sustainability and environmentally friendly practices, according to EAH Housing. It is one of three EAH affordable housing developments in Monterey County.

Lightfighter Village is named after the 7th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army that was primarily based at Fort Ord and would be part of the 10 acres of land the Veterans Transition Center uses for its operations including its emergency, transitional permanent housing programs and other services for veterans.

Schake said that over the past 12 months the Veterans Transition Center’s housing programs are at 92% occupancy.

By the end of April, Schake said, the number of beds available in the VTC’s housing programs will increase by eight to 192 beds when two accessory dwelling units are built on property nearby to Lightfighter Village. The ADUs are made possible with seed money from the RW Family Foundation ($150,000), matching funds from the VTC for $150,000, and a state grant through the County of Monterey for $382,000. Infrastructure is currently being placed before the ADUs can be located at the site with the $682,000 ADU project expected to be occupied by late May.

Appeals court clears way for DOGE to keep operating at USAID

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday lifted an order blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from further cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The lawsuit was among of the first filed against Musk himself. It argued that DOGE’s actions were unconstitutional because he was wielding significant power without being elected or Senate approved.

A lower court judge agreed, but the three-judge appeals court panel sided with the Trump administration, at least for now. It found that while DOGE played a part in the dismantling of USAID, the cuts were approved by government officials.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that social-media posts like Musk’s declaration that he “fed USAID into the wood chipper” didn’t legally prove he was making the orders.

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Rather, the evidence indicates he was acting as an adviser to President Donald Trump, carrying out his policies of rooting out what he calls waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, the court found.

“While defendants’ role and actions related to USAID are not conventional, unconventional does not necessarily equal unconstitutional,” Circuit Judge Marvin Quattlebaum, who was appointed by Trump, wrote. More evidence may be unearthed as the lawsuit keeps playing out but for now the record doesn’t support barring DOGE from USAID, he said.

If the plaintiffs say that the dismantling of USAID violates the constitutional separation of powers, those claims should be directed at the administration, the appeals court suggested.

Their order halted a ruling from U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland in a lawsuit filed by former USAID employees. He found DOGE’s moves to dismantle the agency were likely unconstitutional.

Chuang had required the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to USAID employees, including those put on administrative leave, though he stopped short of reversing firings or fully resurrecting the agency.