Trump administration freezes new funding for anti-HIV programme and different well being companies, excepts key meals programmes.
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has introduced a freeze on nearly all new funding for overseas help programmes, with exceptions for allies Israel and Egypt.
The order from the US State Division on Friday additionally consists of exceptions for emergency meals programmes, however not well being programmes that supporters say present important, life-saving companies.
In an accompanying memo, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed senior officers to “make sure that, to the utmost extent permitted by legislation, no new obligations shall be made for overseas help”.
Humanitarian organisations instantly expressed alarm on the directive, voicing fears that it may contribute to world instability and lack of life.
“By suspending overseas growth help, the Trump administration is threatening the lives and futures of communities in disaster, and abandoning america’ long-held bipartisan strategy to overseas help which helps folks based mostly on want, no matter politics,” Abby Maxman, head of Oxfam America, stated in an announcement.
The short-term freeze is slated to final for a interval of not less than three months. Within the first 85 days, Rubio is anticipated to make “choices whether or not to proceed, modify, or terminate applications”, in keeping with the memo.
Among the many well being programmes anticipated to expertise a funding freeze is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Aid, also called PEPFAR.
Established in 2003 underneath the administration of George W Bush, PEPFAR loved broad bipartisan help for 20 years, till Congress missed a deadline to resume its funding in 2023. Its funding received a one-year extension by way of March 2025, however that’s set to run out inside the three-month window.
Consultants estimate that PEPFAR has helped save as many as 25 million lives because it was first began.
Left untouched by the freeze is assist for Israel and Egypt, two of the most important recipients of US navy help.
Each nations have confronted scrutiny over their human rights information and calls to leverage US assist in change for substantial reforms.
Friday’s memo made particular point out of waivers for “overseas navy financing for Israel and Egypt and administrative bills, together with salaries, essential to administer overseas navy financing”.
There was no indication of an identical exemption for Ukraine, which largely depends on US weapons help in its combat to repel a Russian full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
The US spent greater than $60bn in overseas help in 2023, greater than some other nation total.
However that sum accounts for about 1 p.c of US authorities spending. Within the aftermath of Friday’s memo, some assist tasks around the globe acquired work-stop orders.
“That is lunacy,” stated Jeremy Konyndyk, a former official for the US Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID).
He shared with the Reuters information company his outrage. “It will kill folks. I imply, if carried out as written in that cable … lots of people will die.”
