For at least another week, a judge will keep a hold on a directive placing more than 2,000 employees on administrative leave and forcing the return of overseas workers.

U.S. President Donald Trump's furious pace of orders slashing foreign aid, sending troops to the border and pardoning violent criminals has met little resistance in Congress. Federal judges are delivering the strongest signal yet of a looming showdown -- with the rule of law.

A Trump-appointed judge extended until Feb. 21 an order he issued last week blocking much of the administration’s plan for massive changes to USAID.