Washington: The United States has temporarily suspended all foreign aid, except for military assistance to Israel and Egypt, according to an internal State Department memo that has been leaked to the media.
The memo directs U.S. officials and diplomatic missions abroad to halt the disbursement of existing foreign aid and freeze the implementation of any new assistance programs. Emergency food aid and military assistance to Israel and Egypt are exempt from this order.
The document states, "No new funds will be issued, and no extensions to existing agreements will be granted until a thorough review and reapproval process is completed."
This decision follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump earlier this week, suspending foreign development aid for 90 days. The pause aims to evaluate the effectiveness of such assistance and its alignment with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The United States, as the world's largest donor of international aid, spent approximately $68 billion in 2023, according to official data. This suspension comes at a critical time when humanitarian aid is being ramped up in Gaza after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and other crises, such as famine in Sudan, demand urgent attention.
The memo outlines that the suspension applies to all forms of aid, including developmental and military assistance. It directs U.S. officials to immediately issue stop-work orders for related agreements until a final decision is made.
A comprehensive review of all foreign aid programs has been ordered, to be completed within 85 days, to ensure that the aid aligns with President Trump’s foreign policy priorities.
Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that foreign spending and aid would only be approved if it demonstrably strengthens, secures, or enriches the United States.
