State Department Freezes New Funding for Nearly All US Aid Programmes Worldwide
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Friday implemented a freeze on new funding for nearly all US foreign assistance initiatives, with a few exceptions allowing humanitarian food programmes and military aid to continue for Israel and Egypt.
This sweeping directive threatens to disrupt numerous global projects that aid in health, education, development, job training, and other essential efforts. The United States, being the largest provider of foreign aid, is taking a significant step that appears to enforce President Donald Trump’s commitment to eliminate aid programmes deemed not to be in the United States’ interests.
A cable sent to US embassies around the world outlined the order, which prohibits any new government spending. This effectively limits ongoing programmes to operate solely as long as they possess available funds.
Leading aid organizations interpreted this directive as an immediate stop-work order for US-funded aid projects globally. According to a senior official within these organizations, many would likely cease operations immediately to avoid incurring additional costs.
The State Department will use the period of the freeze to review which of the thousands of US aid and development programmes can be permitted to continue. This order is the execution of an executive order signed by Trump earlier in the week that aimed to halt aid that does not align with predefined US interests.
The decision particularly disappointed humanitarian officials, as it did not include any exemptions for health clinics or other vital health programmes worldwide from the new funding freeze.
The freeze was deemed necessary to ensure that appropriations are not duplicated, remain effective, and are consistent with President Trump’s foreign policy as stated in the global cable.
In the coming month, standards for reviewing all foreign assistance are expected to be established to ensure alignment with President Trump’s policy agenda.
Within three months, a government-wide review is anticipated to be completed, leading to a subsequent report that will be presented to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will then make recommendations to the president.
