The US State Department has imposed a broad freeze on nearly all foreign aid programs, sparing only emergency food initiatives and military assistance to Israel and Egypt. The decision, announced Friday, places billions of dollars in global aid supporting health, education, development, and security at risk.
In 2023, the US allocated approximately $60 billion to foreign aid, representing 1% of its federal budget. Secretary of State Marco Rubio implemented the freeze via a directive to US embassies worldwide, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this week. The freeze is expected to last at least three months, allowing time for a review to align aid distribution with Trump’s foreign policy goals.
While emergency food programs for famine-stricken regions like Sudan remain unaffected, life-saving health initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Relief Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), are included in the freeze. PEPFAR, launched under President George W. Bush, has been credited with saving 25 million lives globally. Many aid organizations, interpreting the directive as an immediate stop-work order, began suspending operations to avoid incurring additional costs.
“Suspending foreign development assistance could have life-or-death consequences for children and families worldwide,” said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America. “This move abandons the bipartisan approach to aid, which prioritizes need over politics.”
United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq expressed concern, stating, “While these are bilateral decisions, we hope capable nations will continue to fund development generously.”
Notably, military aid to Israel and Egypt remains exempt, but $3.85 billion in congressionally approved arms shipments to Ukraine appears frozen, with no exemptions announced. The State Department’s refugee and resettlement agency has also issued guidance halting services for refugees, including Afghans holding special immigrant visas.
Republican leaders, including Florida Representative Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have pledged to scrutinize the budget to ensure aid meets “strictly necessary” standards. Secretary Rubio emphasized the freeze is intended to eliminate duplication, enhance effectiveness, and align funding with Trump’s foreign policy priorities.