Donald Trump halts all U.S. foreign aid, except assistance to Israel and Ukraine.
The United States, recognized as the largest global donor, has not suspended emergency food and military assistance for Israel and Egypt, as reported by the news agency AFP.
In a broad directive, the newly inaugurated Donald Trump administration reportedly halted all foreign aid on Friday, with the only exceptions being for Israel and Egypt.
US President Donald Trump was seen departing the President’s Room alongside Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Vice President JD Vance, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson after signing official documents on January 20.
According to an internal memo referenced in the report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “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.”
This action aligns with President Trump’s commitment to an “America First” policy, which emphasizes stringent limitations on overseas assistance.
The directive is anticipated to impact various forms of aid, including development and military support, notably affecting Ukraine, which had received substantial military funding during the administration of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, to counter the Russian invasion.
The AFP report also indicated that this directive would result in a delay of several months for US funding related to PEPFAR, the initiative aimed at combating HIV/AIDS that provides anti-retroviral medications in developing nations, primarily in Africa.