United States Freezes Foreign Aid, Exempts Emergency Funding and Military Assistance to Israel and Egypt
The United States has frozen virtually all foreign aid, with exceptions only for emergency food and military funding for Israel and Egypt, according to a memo sent to staff by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo, which was seen by AFP, outlines a new “America First” policy of tightly restricting assistance overseas.
The directive affects a wide range of assistance, including development aid, military aid, and programs such as PEPFAR, which provides anti-retroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS in developing countries. However, exceptions were made for military assistance to Israel and Egypt, which have received significant funding from the United States in the past.
The memo also allows for the State Department to make case-by-case exceptions and temporarily fund salaries and administrative expenses. An internal review of all foreign assistance is also required within 85 days.
The move has been met with criticism from lawmakers, with Democrats arguing that the freeze will have “life or death consequences” for millions of people around the world who rely on US-funded programs. Republican lawmakers, on the other hand, have criticized the previous administration’s handling of foreign aid, saying it was used to further American interests abroad.
The United States has long been the world’s top donor in terms of dollar value, with over $64 billion in overseas development assistance given in 2023. However, the memo’s implementation of a “America First” policy marks a significant shift in US foreign aid policy, with some experts warning that it could undermine the country’s global influence and leadership.
