In a landmark decision, US President Donald Trump, back at the White House since Monday, signed an executive order suspending US foreign development aid for a period of 90 days. This measure aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current programs and their consistency with American foreign policy. The executive order says current foreign assistance “is not aligned with U.S. interests and, in many cases, is contrary to American values,” noting that some programs can even “destabilize world peace.”
The text of the executive order specifies that all departments and agencies responsible for aid programs must immediately suspend new obligations and disbursements of funds for development assistance to foreign countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as to international organizations and entrepreneurs. This suspension will remain in effect until a thorough review of these programs is completed within 90 days of the issuance of the Executive Order.
However, flexibility is provided, as new obligations and disbursements could be allocated on a case-by-case basis, provided that a review is conducted and the Secretary of State or his designee decides to continue the program, either in its original form , or in a modified form. This measure potentially concerns all types of aid, but the decree does not specify which sectors will be affected, whether humanitarian aid, health, environment or other support programs.
In 2023, U.S. foreign aid amounted to $68 billion, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), distributed among 204 countries. Sectors funded included economic development, humanitarian assistance, health, and pro-democracy initiatives. Among the countries most benefiting from this aid were Ukraine, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Afghanistan.
-This decree is a continuation of the policy of Donald Trump, who since his first term has questioned the effectiveness and necessity of American foreign aid. During his speech to the UN in 2018, Donald Trump said that aid would now only be allocated to countries that respect the United States and maintain friendly relations with it.
On January 15, Marc Rubio, Secretary of State, detailed Trump’s foreign policy, emphasizing that every dollar spent must answer three essential questions: Does it make America safer, stronger and more prosperous? A principle which will probably guide the re-evaluation of aid programs.
