US freezes foreign aid, exempting Israel, Egypt, emergency food relief

File Source: National Review

The United States, under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, issued a sweeping freeze on foreign aid Friday, sparing only emergency food assistance and military funding for Israel and Egypt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered the directive in an internal memo obtained by AFP, halting virtually all other U.S. assistance programs.

“No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved,” the memo stated. The freeze affects a broad spectrum of programs, including development aid and military support, such as billions in weapons previously supplied to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden.

The directive also halts funding for PEPFAR, the U.S.-led anti-HIV/AIDS program credited with saving 26 million lives since its launch in 2003 under President George W. Bush. The program, which primarily serves African nations, had enjoyed bipartisan support until now.

While Israel and Egypt remain exempt due to longstanding defense agreements, lawmakers and advocacy groups are sounding alarms about the freeze’s potential humanitarian consequences. Representative Gregory Meeks and Representative Lois Frankel, Democrats on the House Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the decision, stating, “For years, Republicans in Congress have decried what they see as a lack of U.S. credibility vis-a-vis countries like China, Russia, and Iran. Now our credibility is on the line, and it appears we will cut and run from American commitments to our partners around the world.”

The freeze also impacts U.S.-funded anti-malaria programs, which currently benefit 63 million people. Advocacy group Oxfam called the move a stark departure from the U.S.’s historic consensus on foreign aid. “Suspending and ultimately cutting many of these programs could have life or death consequences for countless children and families who are living through crisis,” said Oxfam America president Abby Maxman.

Rubio defended the decision, arguing that the administration needed time to assess whether current aid programs are effective, non-duplicative, and aligned with President Trump’s foreign policy goals. An internal review of all foreign assistance is set to conclude within 85 days.

The United States remains the world’s largest donor in dollar terms, contributing over $64 billion in foreign aid in 2023, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. However, critics warn that halting such aid risks undermining global development efforts and ceding influence to rival powers like China and Russia.