President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order that places a temporary hold on all U.S. foreign assistance programs for a period of 90 days. This suspension is intended to allow for a thorough evaluation of whether these programs are in line with his administration’s policy objectives.
The immediate impact of this order, issued on Monday, remains unclear as many programs have already received funding from Congress and are often obligated to be allocated or have already been spent. This action was among several measures Trump signed upon returning to office, stating that the current “foreign aid industry and bureaucracy fail to reflect American interests and, at times, are fundamentally opposed to American values.” He further suggested these programs contribute to global instability by promoting ideas that clash with the aim of fostering stable international relations.
As a result of his executive order, Trump asserted that “no further United States foreign assistance shall be allocated in a manner that does not completely align with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”
During his confirmation hearings last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need for rigorous justification of every dollar spent on foreign aid. He posed three critical questions regarding the expenditure of U.S. funds: “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
The executive order places the responsibility of evaluating programs according to these criteria in the hands of Rubio or his delegate, who will work alongside the Office of Management and Budget. The primary authorities managing foreign assistance are the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Trump has expressed significant opposition to foreign aid over the years, even though it usually accounts for about 1% of the federal budget, except in exceptional cases like the substantial military aid provided to Ukraine. He has openly criticized the financial support given to Ukraine, aimed at strengthening its defense against Russia.
According to the most recent data from the Biden administration, released in mid-December, approximately $68 billion had been committed for foreign assistance in the budget year 2023, covering areas from disaster relief to health initiatives across 204 nations and regions.
Despite this suspension, major recipients of U.S. foreign aid, including Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, which receive $3.3 billion, $1.5 billion, and $1.7 billion annually respectively, are unlikely to face severe cuts. These figures are part of long-term funding agreements established decades ago and are often supported by treaty commitments.
In the past, Republican administrations have targeted funding for U.N. agencies, particularly those overseeing peacekeeping, human rights, and refugee assistance, for reductions. The previous Trump administration made substantial cuts to foreign assistance, terminating contributions to several U.N. bodies, including the U.N. Population Fund and halting funding to the Palestinian Authority.
Previously, under Trump’s administration, the U.S. withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council, which included financial repercussions, and was already prohibited from providing fund to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, thanks to legislation signed by former President Joe Biden in March.
