US Freezes Almost All Foreign Aid, Humanitarian Officials Warn of Catastrophic Consequences
The Trump administration’s sudden suspension of almost all foreign aid has left humanitarian officials scrambling to get clear answers from the US government, with some warning that people will die as a result.
The sweeping directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pause nearly all US aid brought scores of programs, from global health to emergency shelter to countertrafficking, to a halt. The freeze on foreign aid was outlined in a diplomatic cable from Rubio on Friday, which called for immediate stop work orders on existing efforts, a suspension of the disbursement of funds, and a hold on future projects, pending a review.
The directive only specifically outlined emergency food assistance and foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt as exemptions. However, on Tuesday, Rubio issued a waiver for “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” which includes “core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs.”
The waiver specified that it does not apply to “activities that involve abortions, family planning conferences … gender or DEl ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-life saving assistance.” It noted that “Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) may only be used to support activities” that fall under the category of life-saving humanitarian assistance “and for repatriation of third country nationals to their country of origin or safe-third-country.”
Humanitarian officials are warning that the freeze could have catastrophic implications, with one predicting that if the suspension continues for two more weeks, thousands could die. The freeze has already been felt, with some organizations suspending work to provide tens of thousands of Gazans with hygiene kits, emergency shelters, and water system rehabilitation and water trucking.
The freeze has also frozen funding used to clear landmines and to train partners on countering the trade of illicit narcotics and human trafficking. It has stopped assistance to allies such as Ukraine and Taiwan.
Humanitarian officials noted that the administration could have reviewed existing projects without putting a stop to the work. They also noted that the freeze flies in the face of Rubio’s stated priorities of making the US safer and more prosperous.
“This is making America less safe, less prosperous and less secure,” one official said. Some said that it has already created the perception among communities that the US cannot be trusted to keep its commitments. Others have noted that without the US’ presence, other countries or groups will look to step into that vacuum.
