The State Department on Friday announced a 90-day freeze on new funding for nearly all US foreign assistance programs. However, exceptions were made for emergency food aid and military support to Israel and Egypt. The decision could bring an abrupt stop to billions of dollars in US-backed initiatives worldwide, including those focused on health, education, development, job training, anti-corruption efforts, and security assistance.
Shortly after taking office on Monday, Trump ordered a pause on foreign development assistance to evaluate its efficiency and alignment with his foreign policy goals. The exact scope of this directive remains unclear, as the US Congress controls federal budget allocations.
A memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dated Friday, instructed senior officials to halt new foreign aid commitments until he completes a review. Existing assistance projects were ordered to stop work immediately, pending further decisions by Rubio, who plans to assess programs over the next 85 days.
Rubio retains the authority to issue waivers during this review. So far, waivers have been approved for military aid to Israel and Egypt, as well as administrative expenses related to foreign military financing. Emergency food assistance has also been exempted, allowing humanitarian aid to continue flowing into crisis zones like Gaza following a ceasefire and other global hunger emergencies, including in Sudan.
Backlash from humanitarians
The freeze, expected to last at least three months, has drawn criticism for failing to protect life-saving health initiatives. Programs like the President’s Emergency Relief Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved 25 million lives since its inception under President George W. Bush, are among those affected. Humanitarians have expressed disappointment, highlighting the potential setbacks for clinics, immunization efforts, and the fight against HIV/AIDS globally.
Some aid projects began receiving their first stop-work orders following the funding freeze on Friday. According to a former senior official from the US Agency for International Development, many organisations will likely stop their operations immediately to avoid further expenses. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America warned that the suspension is threatening lives and futures of communities that are facing a crisis. Maxman said thar the Trump administration’s decision abandons the bipartisan tradition of providing aid based on need, not politics.