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US Freezes Foreign Aid, Exempting Israel and Egypt

US Freezes Foreign Aid, Exempting Israel and Egypt

The United States has effectively frozen nearly all foreign aid, allowing exceptions only for emergency food assistance and military funding for Israel and Egypt. This sweeping order is part of a broader “America First” policy outlined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly after President Donald Trump took office.

In an internal memo seen by AFP, Rubio stated, “No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved.” The directive covers various forms of assistance, from development aid to military support, and includes cuts to aid for Ukraine, which had been receiving substantial military assistance during the previous administration under Joe Biden.

Additionally, the freeze means at least several months of halted funding for PEPFAR, the initiative established under President George W. Bush in 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries, primarily in Africa. PEPFAR has saved an estimated 26 million lives and has historically received bipartisan support in Washington.

While many forms of foreign aid have been curtailed, exceptions have been made for military support to Israel—whose arms packages from the U.S. have expanded in the wake of the Gaza conflict—and to Egypt, which has received considerable defense funding since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. The memo also noted that U.S. contributions to emergency food assistance would continue, addressing crises in regions like Sudan and Syria.

The memo calls for a complete review of all foreign assistance within 85 days. Rubio justified the freeze by stating it was necessary for the new administration to assess whether existing commitments were effective and aligned with Trump’s foreign policy objectives.

Concerns Over Humanitarian Impact

The U.S. has long been the leading donor of foreign assistance globally, contributing over $64 billion in overseas development aid in 2023, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Historically, Washington has leveraged aid as a tool of its foreign policy, emphasizing development in contrast to China’s resource-driven initiatives.

Oxfam expressed alarm over the decision, noting that humanitarian and development assistance represents only about 1% of the federal budget but plays a crucial role in saving lives, fighting diseases, educating children, and alleviating poverty. Oxfam America president Abby Maxman warned that suspending these programs could have severe life-or-death consequences for vulnerable populations amid crises.

World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization, urged the Trump administration to maintain essential assistance, including disaster relief, as the review of foreign development aid progresses. Lanre Williams-Ayedun, the group’s senior vice president of international programs, called for a swift review that prioritizes investments critical for saving lives and addressing humanitarian emergencies.

Credit: The Journal

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