The State Department has frozen new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, including projects related to health, education, development, and job training. The only exceptions are humanitarian food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.
The order, sent in a cable to U.S. embassies worldwide, prohibits new government spending and appears to limit programs to running only as long as they have cash on hand. This has led to concerns that many aid organizations funded by the U.S. may have to cease operations immediately to avoid incurring more costs.
President Donald Trump has pledged to eliminate aid programs not in the best interests of the United States, and this freeze seems to be the beginning of that enforcement. The State Department will be conducting a review to determine which programs can continue, in line with Trump’s foreign policy agenda.
The decision not to include exemptions for health clinics and other health programs worldwide in the freeze has disappointed humanitarian officials. The freeze is seen as necessary to ensure that appropriations are effective and consistent with the president’s foreign policy goals.
A government-wide review of all foreign assistance programs is expected to be completed within three months, with a subsequent report to be produced for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make recommendations to the president. This move signals a significant change in U.S. foreign assistance policy under the Trump administration.
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