President Donald Trump’s foreign aid pause has led to the suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans approved for special U.S. visas and at risk of Taliban retribution. The Afghans are stranded in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, and Albania, said Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac, a leading advocate for evacuating and resettling Afghans who worked for the United States during the 20-year war.
The foreign aid pause was triggered by Trump’s order to halt development aid for 90 days, pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with his “America First” foreign policy. The pause has also led to chaos in U.S. and international aid operations, halting nutrition, health, vaccination, and other programs.
The State Department has suspended funds for groups that help Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) find housing, schools, and jobs in the U.S. Trump promised an immigration crackdown during his 2020 reelection campaign.
VanDiver said he does not believe the flight suspension was intentional and hopes the administration will grant exemptions for Afghans approved for SIVs because they worked for the U.S. government during the war.
The flight suspension has stranded tens of thousands of Afghans, including SIV holders and those waiting to be processed. The Taliban have detained, tortured, and killed former soldiers and officials of the prior U.S.-backed government, reports say.
The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S. on SIVs or as refugees since the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
