Trump administration freezes all US foreign aid, except for Israel and Egypt

The 90-day pause in international aid determined by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, applies to new and existing aid, according to a State Department memo to which the Reuters had access this Friday (24), which also states that exemptions were issued for military financing for Israel and Egypt.

A few hours after taking office on Monday, Trump decreed a freeze on foreign aid, to assess the efficiency and consistency of this foreign policy.

But the scope of the order was not immediately known and it was not clear what funding would be cut, as it is the US Congress that sets the US government’s federal budget.

Signed by new Secretary of State Marco Rubio and dated this Friday, the State Department memo says that, effective immediately, senior officials “must ensure that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, no new obligations are made for assistance foreign” until Rubio makes a decision after a review.

The document further says that for existing foreign assistance awards, stop orders must be issued immediately until they are reviewed by Rubio.

Across all sectors, “decisions to continue, modify or terminate programs will be made” by Rubio after analysis over the next 85 days. Until then, Rubio can approve exemptions.

The State Department memo says that Rubio has so far approved waivers for “foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt and administrative expenses, including salaries, necessary to administer foreign military financing.”

Rubio also issued an exemption for emergency food assistance, amid a surge in humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip following the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants on Sunday, and other famines across the country. world, including Sudan.