The US State Department has imposed a freeze on new funding for almost all foreign assistance programs, with exceptions made solely for humanitarian food aid and military assistance to Israel and Egypt.
This sweeping directive threatens to bring an abrupt halt to numerous global initiatives supporting health, education, development, job training, and other efforts funded by the United States, the world’s largest provider of foreign aid. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate programs he deems not aligned with US interests.
According to a cable sent to US embassies worldwide, obtained by The Associated Press, the order prohibits any new government spending, effectively limiting projects to their existing cash reserves.
Leading aid organizations interpret the directive as an immediate stop-work order for US-funded projects globally, with many expected to cease operations to avoid incurring additional costs, a senior official from an aid organization stated. The official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the freeze would particularly impact health programs and clinics, as the order does not exempt them from the funding restrictions.
The freeze aims to ensure that “appropriations are not duplicated, are effective, and align with President Trump’s foreign policy agenda,” the global cable outlined. Over the next month, standards for reviewing all foreign assistance programs will be established to ensure alignment with the administration’s objectives.
Within three months, the State Department is expected to complete a government-wide review and produce a report for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will make recommendations to President Trump regarding the continuation or termination of aid programs.
This decision has sparked disappointment among humanitarian officials, who had hoped for exemptions for critical health programs. The freeze is anticipated to significantly disrupt global aid operations, leaving many in urgent need without support.