US Government Freezes Foreign Aid Amid Funding Reassessment
WASHINGTON — The State Department has implemented a comprehensive freeze on new funding for nearly all U.S. foreign assistance, with exceptions made for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. This significant decision threatens to halt many billions of dollars allocated to U.S.-funded global projects that support health, education, development, job training, anti-corruption, and security efforts.
With a budget of approximately $60 billion in 2023, the U.S. remains the largest provider of foreign aid worldwide, accounting for about 1% of the country’s overall budget. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s directive, communicated through a cable sent to U.S. embassies globally, specifically preserves funding for emergency food programs aimed at combating famine in war-torn regions like Sudan.
This cable outlines the implementation of the aid-freezing executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this week. However, the recent order has sparked disappointment among humanitarian officials, particularly due to the lack of specific exemptions for critical health initiatives, including clinics and immunization programs. Notably, the highly regarded anti-HIV effort, known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), appears to be affected by the freeze, despite its history of saving 25 million lives, including those of 5.5 million children, since its establishment by former President George W. Bush.
As the freeze takes effect, some aid projects have already begun receiving stop-work orders. Leading aid organizations interpret this directive as an immediate halt to U.S.-funded aid efforts globally, prompting many to cease operations to avoid incurring additional costs. A former senior official from the U.S. Agency for International Development, speaking anonymously, highlighted the potential consequences of this funding suspension.
Abby Maxman, head of Oxfam America, expressed grave concerns, stating, “Suspending funding could have life or death consequences for children and families around the world. By suspending foreign development assistance, the Trump administration is jeopardizing the lives and futures of communities in crisis, abandoning a long-held bipartisan commitment to foreign assistance that prioritizes need over political interests.”
At the United Nations, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq remarked, “These are bilateral decisions, but we expect nations capable of doing so to generously fund development assistance.” While Rubio’s order has exempted military aid to allies Israel and Egypt, there are currently no indications that similar allowances will be made for crucial U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.
The Biden administration expedited military aid to Ukraine before leaving office, amidst uncertainties about Trump’s intention to continue support. However, approximately $3.85 billion in congressional funding remains available for future arms shipments to Ukraine, leaving the decision to allocate these funds to Trump.
The enforcement of this sweeping freeze is part of a broader Republican initiative to scrutinize U.S. aid programs. Florida Republican Representative Brian Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has committed to examining “every dollar and every diplomat” in the State Department’s budget to ensure adherence to strict necessity standards.
According to the global cable, the freeze aims to guarantee that appropriations are not duplicated, are effective, and align with President Trump’s foreign policy. Within the next month, standards will be established to review all foreign assistance to ensure compliance with Trump’s agenda, with a comprehensive review expected to be completed within three months, culminating in recommendations for the president.
