In a significant policy shift, the US State Department has announced a 90-day freeze on nearly all foreign aid, according to a leaked memo. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed the decision through an encrypted message, stating that the Trump administration will use this period to establish new standards for reviewing foreign assistance. These standards aim to align aid distribution more closely with President Trump’s foreign policy agenda.
The freeze, effective immediately, will impact most foreign aid programs. However, the memo specifies waivers for emergency food assistance and foreign military financing for key allies, Israel and Egypt. Over the next month, the administration plans to finalize the criteria for these reviews, which could reshape how the US engages with global partners through aid.
This move reflects the administration’s broader strategy to reassess foreign aid priorities and ensure they serve national interests. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the potential humanitarian and geopolitical consequences of such a sweeping pause.
