Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily delayed a midnight deadline for the Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments, imposed by a lower judge who found

A sharply divided Supreme Court on Wednesday narrowly ruled that the Trump administration must comply with a district court order and pay out nearly $2 billion in foreign assistance funds to nonprofit aid groups for work already completed on the government's behalf.

Organizations in the U.S. and around the world have cut services and laid off thousands of workers as a result of the frozen funds.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A day after getting a boost from the Supreme Court, U.S. foreign aid contractors and grant recipients go before a federal judge on Thursday to try to restore funding halted by President Donald Trump's administration in his drive to shut down American humanitarian efforts globally.

Chief Justice John Roberts said late Wednesday that the order issued by U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali will remain on hold until the high court has a chance to weigh in more fully.

By a narrow 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court pushed back against President Donald Trump's agenda when it declined to reverse a judge's order.

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