The United States, the world’s largest donor, announced a sweeping freeze on foreign aid on Friday, with exceptions only for emergency food assistance and military funding for Israel and Egypt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an internal memo mandating the suspension of new or extended aid programs until reviewed under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
The freeze impacts critical initiatives, including PEPFAR, the life-saving HIV/AIDS program credited with saving 26 million lives since 2003, and development assistance to Ukraine. Exceptions include longstanding military aid to Israel and Egypt, as well as emergency food aid for global crises.
The move has sparked backlash from humanitarian organizations. Oxfam warned of life-threatening consequences for vulnerable populations, while World Relief urged a swift review to resume vital disaster relief funding. The State Department aims to reassess all foreign aid within 85 days to align with Trump’s foreign policy priorities.
