The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.
The U.S. provides more foreign aid globally than any other country, budgeting about $60 billion in 2023, or about 1% of its overall budget.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's order, delivered in a cable sent to U.S. embassies worldwide, specifically exempted emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in war-torn Sudan.
The cable spelled out the execution of the aid-freezing executive order President Donald Trump signed Monday.
Although Rubio's order exempted military assistance to allies Israel and Egypt from the freeze, there was no indication of a similar waiver to allow U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.
The Biden administration pushed military aid to Ukraine out the door before leaving office because of doubts about whether Trump would continue it. But there is still about $3.85 billion in congressionally authorized funding for future arms shipments to Ukraine and it is now up to Trump to decide whether to spend it.
The sweeping freeze begins enforcement of a pledge from Trump and other Republicans to crack down on U.S. aid programs. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., the new chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, promised this week that Republicans would question "every dollar and every diplomat" in the State Department's budget to ensure it met their standards for strictly necessary.
Friday's order especially disappointed humanitarian officials by not including specific exemptions for life-saving health programs, such as clinics and immunization programs.
Some leading aid organizations were interpreting the directive as an immediate stop-work order for U.S.-funded aid work globally, a former senior U.S. Agency for International Development official said. Many would likely cease operations immediately so as not to incur more costs, the official said.
The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Within the next month, standards for a review of all foreign assistance are expected to be set to ensure that it is "aligned with President Trump's foreign policy agenda," the cable stated. And within three months, the government-wide review is expected to be completed with a subsequent report to be produced for Rubio to make recommendations to Trump.
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