• The State Department has frozen new funding for almost all U.S. aid programs globally.
• Exceptions have been made for military aid to Israel and Egypt, and some humanitarian food programs.
• A thorough review of existing aid programs will determine which can continue.
• Leading aid organizations are interpreting this freeze as an immediate stop-work order on many global initiatives.
• Humanitarian officials express concerns about the impacts on critical health services and emergency relief efforts.

In a sweeping move, the U.S. State Department has announced a freeze on new funding for nearly all foreign aid programs, making exceptions only for certain humanitarian food initiatives and military assistance to Israel and Egypt. This significant directive, communicated through cables to Le Monde and Newsweek, effectively halts new government spending across a wide array of programs aimed at supporting health, education, and poverty alleviation globally.

This order aligns with an executive action by President Donald Trump, intended to review U.S. foreign assistance to ensure it adheres to his administration's foreign policy priorities. The announcement has raised alarms in humanitarian sectors, as many aid organizations view this as an immediate stop to ongoing projects that are critical for thousands of communities around the world. With the U.S. typically providing around $60 billion in foreign aid annually, the freeze poses significant risks to ongoing efforts, particularly in struggling regions like Sudan, where food security is currently at crisis levels.

Leading figures in the humanitarian field have voiced their concerns, highlighting that the suspension of funding could result in dire consequences for vulnerable populations, including those reliant on essential health services. Notably, programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been credited with saving millions of lives, are now facing an uncertain future.

Within the next month, the State Department aims to establish standards for reviewing existing aid programs to ensure they align with the administration's objectives. This review is expected to influence decisions made over the next three months regarding the continuation of numerous development initiatives. As articulated by a senior official from an aid organization, the freeze represents an unprecedented challenge as many programs are now limited to only using currently available funds. This has already prompted some organizations to cease operations altogether to mitigate unnecessary costs.

The urgency of this situation is underscored by the rapid changes in policy that could not only impact aid distribution but also reshape U.S. foreign assistance moving forward. As noted by humanitarian leaders, the consequences of such a funding freeze could reverberate globally, placing lives at risk and undermining efforts aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs. For more information, refer to AP News and TIME.