Trump Pauses Foreign Aid

By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s 90-day foreign aid pause applies to both new and existing assistance, according to a State Department memo seen by Reuters on Friday. The memo also states that waivers have been issued for military financing for Israel and Egypt.

Hours after taking office on Monday, Trump ordered the pause in foreign development assistance pending assessments of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. The scope of the order was not immediately known, and it was unclear what funding could be cut, given that the U.S. Congress sets the federal budget.

The State Department memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and dated Friday, stated that effective immediately, senior officials “shall ensure that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, no new obligations shall be made for foreign assistance” until Rubio has made a decision after a review.

For existing foreign assistance awards, stop-work orders shall be issued immediately until reviewed by Rubio. Across the board, “decisions whether to continue, modify, or terminate programs will be made” by Rubio following a review over the next 85 days. Until then, Rubio can approve waivers.

The memo specified that waivers have so far been approved for “foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt and administrative expenses, including salaries, necessary to administer foreign military financing.” Rubio has also issued a waiver for emergency food assistance amid a surge of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday, as well as addressing several other hunger crises around the world, including Sudan.