Nearly all US aid programmes worldwide frozen after Trump order. Regime Change expert Donald Lu services also end

 

The new Trump administration has issued a halt to nearly all existing foreign aid programs, except those flowing to Israel and Egypt. That's according to a State Department memo seen by US media outlets.

The subject freeze stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump within hours of taking office, ordering a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance to review efficiency and consistency with his foreign policy.

On Monday, just hours after taking office the US president ordered a 90-day pause in US-funded global projects pending a review of their efficiency and to check they are consistent with his foreign policy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's directive excludes funding for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. However, it remains to be seen whether it will affect the flow of vital US military assistance to Ukraine.

Joe Biden's administration stepped up military aid to Ukraine before he left office due to doubts over whether Mr Trump would continue funding Kyiv.

An estimated amount of $3.85bn (£3bn) in funding for future arms shipments to Ukraine - authorized by the US Congress - remains, but it is unclear whether President Donald Trump will decide to spend it.

The United States provides more foreign aid than any country worldwide and budgeted around $60bn (£48bn), or 1% of its budget, in 2023.

The waiver for emergency food programs comes as humanitarian aid surges into the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and amid famine in war-torn Sudan.

The humanitarian officials criticized the order because it did not exclude life-saving health programs such as clinics and immunization programs. Read more

Among the health programs expected to experience a funding freeze is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, also known as PEPFAR.

This was established in 2003 under the administration of George W Bush, PEPFAR enjoyed broad bipartisan support for two decades, until Congress missed a deadline to renew its funding in 2023. Its funding got a one-year extension through March 2025, but expiring in three months.

Some experts are of the view that PEPFAR has helped save as many as 25 million lives since it was first started.

The freeze left untouched is aid for Israel and Egypt, two of the largest recipients of the United States military assistance but both have faced scrutiny over their human rights records and calls to leverage US aid in exchange for substantial reforms. Read more