In a significant shift in US foreign policy, the Trump administration has frozen virtually all foreign aid disbursements, with the notable exceptions of emergency food assistance, military aid to Israel, and military funding for Egypt.
The move, outlined in a memo issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to conduct a comprehensive review of existing foreign aid programs to ensure their alignment with the administration’s “America First” foreign policy priorities.
This sweeping order affects a wide range of foreign aid programs, potentially including vital assistance to countries like Ukraine, which has received substantial military and humanitarian aid from the United States in the face of the Russian invasion.
While the memo exempts emergency food aid, it explicitly includes military aid to Israel and Egypt, reflecting the continued strategic importance of these two countries to US foreign policy.
This decision has sparked concerns among international aid organizations and human rights groups, who warn that the suspension of foreign aid could have severe consequences for vulnerable populations around the world.
The Trump administration has vowed to conduct a thorough review of all foreign aid programs within 85 days to determine their effectiveness and alignment with US foreign policy objectives.