Trump orders freezing foreign aid

Trump’s directive to suspend foreign assistance. The recent directive from the Trump administration to suspend nearly all foreign aid has resulted in a state of uncertainty for various U.S.-funded overseas assistance initiatives. This includes counterterrorism training in Somalia, HIV treatment in Uganda, narcotics interdiction efforts in Colombia, and the provision of prosthetics for refugees from Myanmar, among others.
The directive issued on January 24 indicated that the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development are prohibited from providing foreign assistance until a comprehensive review of the programs is conducted, with exceptions made for Israel and Egypt, as well as in critical situations requiring emergency food aid. The cable directed U.S. government officials to implement “stop-work” orders for nongovernmental organizations and aid groups, effectively halting their use of previously allocated U.S. funding, rather than merely suspending new financial support.
The three-month hiatus took U.S. officials and aid workers by surprise, as they warned that the disruption in the approximately $60 billion foreign aid budget for this year could significantly undermine essential programs in various nations and create an opportunity for China and other rivals to position themselves as more dependable benefactors than Washington. “In the current climate, there is a palpable sense of urgency and disbelief among us,” remarked Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and a former senior USAID official during the Biden and Obama administrations.
Humanitarian organizations and American officials tasked with overseeing aid initiatives have inundated the State Department with appeals for exemptions, contending that even a brief suspension could result in loss of life. The aid suspension, given the State Department’s oversight of arms transfers, seemingly halts the financing allocated to Taiwan and Ukraine for U.S. weapons, though it is not the sole source of military support for these nations.
The Border Health Development Foundation facilitates access to medical care for individuals affected by the conflict in Myanmar, providing essential treatment in Thailand. A spokesperson for the State Department indicated that the pause is necessary to guarantee the efficiency of foreign assistance programs and to align with President Trump’s “America First agenda.” She refrained from addressing inquiries regarding the potential waivers that could be issued, the particular programs currently on hold, or the international ramifications.
In Uganda, approximately 1.43 million individuals are living with HIV, prompting health authorities to express concern over the sudden cessation of funding that threatens to undermine years of progress in combating HIV/AIDS. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as Pepfar, allocates approximately $500 million annually to deliver treatment to the majority of Ugandans living with HIV across 24 districts, as reported by the Uganda Aids Commission. Pepfar’s financial commitments to HIV prevention initiatives are anticipated to prevent approximately 190,000 new HIV infections by the year 2030, as reported by the health ministry.
“We are engaging with several partners to explore potential pathways,” stated Brian Aliganyira, director of an HIV/AIDS treatment initiative at the Ark Wellness Hub, a clinic located in Central Uganda. “In truth, the future of our patients remains uncertain.” The recent stop-work order in Somalia has raised apprehensions regarding the security of a warehouse containing arms utilized by government forces in Mogadishu, particularly those who have received training from the United States. Local nationals, engaged by a private firm and operating under U.S. supervision, have been tasked with providing security, according to sources acquainted with the situation.
Officials at the State Department were deliberating on potential measures to tackle the issue on Monday, yet it remains uncertain whether a waiver will be granted or if alternative security protocols will be established. The financial support from Washington has played a crucial role in addressing some of the most significant humanitarian crises of recent years. In the previous year, it accounted for 47% of the U.N.’s emergency response plan for Sudan and nearly 70% for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In eastern Syria, operations by U.S.-funded aid organizations providing food, water, and sanitation services to a refugee camp housing 40,000 individuals were suspended almost immediately following last Friday’s directive, according to three aid workers. The Al Hol camp houses the families of Islamic State militants alongside individuals caught in the turmoil of northeast Syria amid the U.S.-led military operations against the group. A cessation of U.S.-funded assistance could potentially galvanize sympathizers of the terrorist group to bolster recruitment efforts for their agenda, according to the aid workers. “The cancellation of services engenders discontent,” remarked a senior aid worker at the camp. “Individuals lacking fulfillment of their needs may exhibit a heightened vulnerability to radicalization.”
On Monday, the State Department granted a waiver that permitted the renewal of suspended contracts for a duration of two weeks, thereby enabling aid workers to resume payments to security personnel in the extensive tent city. The United States stands as the preeminent global provider of humanitarian aid, also ranking among the foremost contributors to foreign assistance in a broader context. In 2023, the most recent year for which internationally comparable data exists, the United States accounted for $64.7 billion of the $223.3 billion in foreign aid disbursed by affluent nations within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, as reported by the One Campaign.
Officials from the Trump administration articulated their objective as ensuring that foreign aid serves the interests of the United States and its taxpayers. However, detractors argue that such a freeze may undermine American interests. In Colombia, the current hiatus poses a risk of exacerbating security issues, as the nation grapples with a revival in cocaine production and guerrilla conflict, amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration on allies to combat drug trafficking.
In 2025, Colombia is set to receive $380 million earmarked for counternarcotics and economic development initiatives, surpassing allocations to any other nation in the Western Hemisphere. In a separate conflict zone, individuals wounded in the Myanmar war are conveyed by the Thailand-based Border Health Development Foundation, which also finances their medical care in Thai hospitals and offers rehabilitation and prosthetic devices for those facing permanent disabilities.
The organization relies on the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for a quarter of its funding and was issued a stop-work order on Sunday, according to its director, Mahn Mahn. The organization has implemented a 50% reduction in food rations for patients and has also decreased salaries for medical and other personnel by 25%. Mahn Mahn indicated that should the aid freeze extend beyond 90 days or if U.S. funding is completely withdrawn, the capacity to cover essential medications and hospital expenses for patients would be severely compromised.
Approximately 50 amputees awaiting prosthetic limbs may ultimately be deprived of such essential support. “We are able to secure contingencies for a duration of three months; however, any extension beyond that period is not feasible,” he stated. The State Department stands as a prominent financier of Chinese civil society organizations, offering essential backing to human rights groups grappling with the Chinese Communist Party’s repression of minorities. “Should the pause evolve into a complete cessation…”“Beijing will be overjoyed,” remarked Tom Kellogg, executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Asian Law.