U.S. Suspends Foreign Aid for Evaluation After Executive Order
Aid programs have been suspended while the Trump administration assesses their alignment with foreign policy objectives, except for a few cases involving military financing.
The United States has broadly suspended its foreign assistance programs following an executive order from President Donald Trump, which requires a review of aid allocations to ensure they align with his foreign policy goals.
A cable obtained by Reuters reveals that the State Department has issued an immediate 'stop-work' order on all existing foreign assistance and halted new obligations until Secretary of State Marco Rubio completes a review.
Waivers have been issued for military financing to Israel and Egypt, according to the cable, while other programs are still under review.
In the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. provided seventy-two billion dollars in foreign aid, making it the largest donor globally.
This suspension affects a wide array of humanitarian and development initiatives, including health services, education, and support for civil society organizations.
Some paused programs include emergency maternal care and childhood vaccination efforts in Ukraine.
Emergency food assistance, however, is waived due to ongoing crises such as hunger in Sudan and aid initiatives in Gaza following a ceasefire.
Senior U.S. officials stated that decisions on whether to continue, adjust, or terminate ongoing programs will be made within the next eighty-five days.
Rubio will assess each allocation individually and may approve further waivers during this period.
Critics have raised concerns about the potential humanitarian impact of the suspension.
Former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officials warned that halting essential services like HIV/AIDS treatment, nutrition programs, and refugee aid could lead to severe consequences in vulnerable areas.
The freeze also covers administrative costs related to foreign military financing, which provides significant support to countries such as Israel, Egypt, Ukraine, and Jordan.
Israel receives roughly three point three billion dollars each year in military assistance, while Egypt gets one point three billion dollars.
The directive has faced criticism from aid organizations and former officials who argue that the suspension risks diminishing U.S. influence and leaving a gap for competitors to fill.
While the administration defends the review as essential for accountability, the immediate effect on global aid programs is considerable.
A cable obtained by Reuters reveals that the State Department has issued an immediate 'stop-work' order on all existing foreign assistance and halted new obligations until Secretary of State Marco Rubio completes a review.
Waivers have been issued for military financing to Israel and Egypt, according to the cable, while other programs are still under review.
In the fiscal year 2023, the U.S. provided seventy-two billion dollars in foreign aid, making it the largest donor globally.
This suspension affects a wide array of humanitarian and development initiatives, including health services, education, and support for civil society organizations.
Some paused programs include emergency maternal care and childhood vaccination efforts in Ukraine.
Emergency food assistance, however, is waived due to ongoing crises such as hunger in Sudan and aid initiatives in Gaza following a ceasefire.
Senior U.S. officials stated that decisions on whether to continue, adjust, or terminate ongoing programs will be made within the next eighty-five days.
Rubio will assess each allocation individually and may approve further waivers during this period.
Critics have raised concerns about the potential humanitarian impact of the suspension.
Former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officials warned that halting essential services like HIV/AIDS treatment, nutrition programs, and refugee aid could lead to severe consequences in vulnerable areas.
The freeze also covers administrative costs related to foreign military financing, which provides significant support to countries such as Israel, Egypt, Ukraine, and Jordan.
Israel receives roughly three point three billion dollars each year in military assistance, while Egypt gets one point three billion dollars.
The directive has faced criticism from aid organizations and former officials who argue that the suspension risks diminishing U.S. influence and leaving a gap for competitors to fill.
While the administration defends the review as essential for accountability, the immediate effect on global aid programs is considerable.
