In a radical shift in US foreign policy, the Trump administration has frozen nearly all foreign assistance worldwide, a directive that could have devastating consequences for ongoing humanitarian projects.
The freeze, which affects billions of dollars in funding from the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), was initiated following a sweeping executive order issued by President Donald Trump on Monday.
Secretary of Stateaaq Marco Rubio sent a directive to US diplomatic posts on Friday, effectively halting both existing and new foreign aid unless exempted.
The consequences of this move are immediate and far-reaching. Critical programs providing lifesaving health aid, development support, and military assistance especially in conflict zones are now suspended.
Essential efforts such as the distribution of clean water to infants, global health initiatives like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the fight against malaria through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) are all at risk. In countries like Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, and Ukraine, millions of people depend on these American-funded programmes, and the suspension could lead to severe consequences, deepening existing crises.
Humanitarian officials have expressed alarm over the abrupt decision. The freeze, which was outlined in the State Department cable, affects almost every aspect of foreign assistance except emergency food aid and military financing for Israel and Egypt.
The sudden nature of this decision has left global health organizations and development partners scrambling to adjust. “The global aid landscape is in chaos,” one aid official remarked, emphasizing how crucial the US is in maintaining global stability through its support of health and development programs.
In Ghana, where the US has supported numerous programs, particularly in health and education, the freeze could halt ongoing efforts to combat diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. These programmes, which often rely on consistent funding to ensure continuity, are now in limbo.
The United States’ role in global health has long been seen as a stabilizing force, and the freeze sends shockwaves through local governments and organizations that have relied on US support to increase their health infrastructures.
While the order’s impact on military aid remains largely unaffected for some nations, the freeze leaves an uncertain future for security and defense assistance in regions critical to US interests, including countries like Taiwan and Ukraine. Without clarity on which programmes will be spared or cut, countries that depend on US military aid may find themselves vulnerable to instability. The implications for global security could be profound, especially in regions with increasing tensions.
Democratic leaders in the US have already voiced concerns about the freeze’s potential long-term effects on American global influence and humanitarian commitments.
Reps. Gregory Meeks and Lois Frankel criticized the decision, spotlighting the importance of programs like PEPFAR that have not only saved countless lives but also nurtured goodwill toward the US.
