A federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Trump had properly fired the board of the U.S. African Development Foundation, giving the White House room to carry out planned cuts to the agency.

Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee to the bench in Washington, said the law governing the foundation does not restrict the president’s firing abilities, so he had a free hand to dismiss the five members.

They argued they were never properly notified of the firings and so when they moved to name one of themselves, Ward Brehm, as the new president of the foundation, he was properly installed and able to refuse the cuts.

But Judge Leon said Mr. Trump’s firings appear to have been done correctly.

“In sum, since the president removed the board members before March 3, 2025, they lacked the authority to appoint Brehm as the president of USADF,” Judge Leon ruled. “Brehm thus never lawfully held the position, and the court is not at liberty to unilaterally install him as president.”

He had previously denied a restraining order and his new ruling Tuesday is a more permanent summary judgment decision.

Judge Leon is overseeing a separate lawsuit challenging the specific cuts at USADF.

The ADF is an independent agency funded by Congress to give grants to organizations in Africa to carry out “peaceful activities.”

It is one of several independent agencies Mr. Trump has targeted for elimination “to the maximum extent” the law allows.

The board members said the most of the emails notifying them of the firings were never received because of problems with the addresses the Trump team used.

The board’s previous president had resigned on Feb. 10.

Mr. Trump, after firing the board members, had installed his own pick, Pete Marocco, to the board to carry out his cuts. 

Mr. Marocco then tried to fire Mr. Brehm.

Since then, both men have claimed to be the actual president.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.