In a recent development, the U.S. State Department has commanded a halt on the majority of funding for foreign aid programs.
This move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order to suspend aid for a 90-day period. The directive, issued on a Friday, was accompanied by a memorandum from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which outlined exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.
As reported by The Independent, the memo from Rubio instructed staff to issue "stop-work orders" on nearly all "existing foreign assistance awards." The memo further stated that the administration would be formulating standards for a review of the assistance, to ensure it is "aligned with President Trump's foreign policy agenda."
"Decisions whether to continue, modify, or terminate programs will be made following this review," the memo read, adding that it should be completed within 85 days. This review, along with Rubio's recommendations on which foreign assistance programs to continue, is to be forwarded to President Trump.
The United States, being the most generous provider of foreign aid globally, had allocated approximately $60 billion for foreign aid in 2023. However, the recent order's lack of exemptions for crucial health programs, such as clinics and immunization initiatives, has sparked concern among humanitarian organizations.
A senior official at USAID, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NPR, "The stop-work order is completely reckless." The official further elaborated on the potential negative impact of this order, stating, "The impact of this stop order is meant to negatively disrupt not just US foreign aid programs and the intended beneficiaries of these programs but the daily lives of people who deliver this critical aid: people with families to take care of, who have to buy food, pay rent and utilities. Yes, reform of U.S. foreign aid is desperately needed but these draconian measures are unhelpful."
Abby Maxman, head of Oxfam America, expressed her concern, saying, "By suspending foreign development assistance, the Trump administration is threatening the lives and futures of communities in crisis, and abandoning the United States long-held bipartisan approach to foreign assistance which supports people based on need, regardless of politics."
United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq also weighed in on the matter, stating, "These are bilateral decisions but nonetheless we expect those nations who have the capability to generously fund development assistance."
The freeze's impact was felt almost immediately, with some aid projects receiving their first stop-work orders on Friday afternoon. A former senior U.S. Agency for International Development official, speaking anonymously, told The Associated Press that many organizations might halt operations immediately to avoid incurring further costs. This interpretation of the directive as an immediate stop-work order for U.S.-funded aid work globally underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential ramifications of this decision.
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