Vance Rubio

WASHINGTON — On Friday, the State Department implemented a comprehensive freeze on new funding for nearly all U.S. foreign aid programs. Exceptions were made for emergency food initiatives and military assistance to Israel and Egypt.

This action immediately jeopardized billions of dollars in U.S.-funded projects globally, impacting areas such as health, education, development, job training, anti-corruption efforts, and security assistance.

The U.S. is the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, allocating roughly $60 billion in 2023—approximately 1% of its national budget.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s directive, communicated via cable to U.S. embassies worldwide, specifically excluded emergency food programs, such as those addressing the famine in Sudan.

The cable details the enforcement of President Trump’s executive order, signed on Monday, halting aid disbursement.

The omission of life-saving health programs, including clinics and immunization initiatives, from the exemptions deeply disappointed humanitarian organizations.

PEPFA, a globally recognized anti-HIV program, is among those affected by the freeze, which is expected to last at least three months. PEPFAR has been credited with saving 25 million lives, including 5.5 million children, since its inception under President George W. Bush.

Some aid projects received stop-work orders Friday afternoon.

Leading aid organizations interpreted the directive as an immediate halt to U.S.-funded projects globally, according to a former senior U.S. Agency for International Development official, who spoke anonymously. Many organizations will likely cease operations to avoid accumulating further costs.

Oxfam America’s head, Abby Maxman, stated that the funding suspension “could have life or death consequences” for children and families worldwide.

Maxman further commented, “By suspending foreign development assistance, the Trump administration is threatening the lives and futures of communities in crisis, and abandoning the United States’ long-held bipartisan approach to foreign assistance which supports people based on need, regardless of politics,”

At the United Nations, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq remarked, “These are bilateral decisions but nonetheless we expect those nations who have the capability to generously fund development assistance.”

While Rubio’s order exempted military aid to Israel and Egypt, no similar exemption was granted for vital U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.

The Biden administration expedited military aid to Ukraine before leaving office due to concerns about Trump’s potential discontinuation. However, approximately $3.85 billion in congressionally authorized funding remains for future arms shipments to Ukraine, a decision now resting with President Trump.

The sweeping freeze fulfills a pledge by Trump and other Republicans to curtail U.S. aid programs.

Additionally on Friday, the State Department agency overseeing refugee resettlement instructed associated agencies to immediately “suspend all work” under their foreign assistance funding. The guidance lacked clarity, but suggests resettlement agencies assisting refugees, including those Afghans who arrived on special immigrant visas, might face temporary operational halts.

Florida Republican Representative Brian Mast, the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, vowed this week that Republicans would scrutinize “every dollar and every diplomat” in the State Department’s budget to ensure alignment with their standards.

The freeze aims to ensure that “appropriations are not duplicated, are effective, and are consistent with President Trump’s foreign policy,” according to the global cable.

Within the next month, standards for reviewing all foreign assistance will be established to ensure alignment with President Trump’s foreign policy agenda. A government-wide review is expected to conclude within three months, resulting in a report for Rubio to provide recommendations to the president.

—Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Rebecca Santana contributed.