A coalition of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractors and nonprofits who claim President Trump's executive order to freeze foreign aid could irreparably harm their operations have asked a federal judge to hold the Trump administration in civil contempt.

The request comes after the administration said in court filings that it is not paying out funds for thousands of foreign aid grants and contracts despite the judge's order to lift the sweeping freeze.

"This Court should not brook such brazen defiance of the express terms of its order," wrote Lauren Bateman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

The contractors sued the Trump administration earlier this month, alleging they were collectively waiting on hundreds of millions........

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