• The U.S. State Department has frozen funding for almost all global aid programs.
• The freeze allows exceptions for humanitarian food aid and military support to Israel and Egypt.
• This measure is part of an executive order from President Trump aimed at aligning aid with foreign policy interests.
• A review process will determine which programs can continue based on available funding.
• Leading aid organizations fear immediate operational halts for many projects worldwide.

In a substantial shift in foreign aid policy, the U.S. State Department announced on Friday a freeze on new funding for nearly all U.S. aid programs globally. Only humanitarian food programs and military assistance to Israel and Egypt are exempt from this directive. The announcement was communicated to U.S. embassies via a cable and effectively limits programs to operating within their current cash reserves.

This order implements an aid-freezing executive order signed by President Donald Trump, reflecting his administration's stance on foreign assistance, which aims to eliminate programs deemed not beneficial to U.S. interests. Numerous aid organizations have interpreted this directive as an instantaneous stop-work order, with many expected to cease operations immediately to avoid accruing further costs, as reported by Newsweek.

Officials from the humanitarian sector expressed deep disappointment that the freeze does not include exemptions for health services, which are crucial in numerous regions worldwide. The State Department stated that the freeze is intended to ensure that appropriations align with Trump's foreign policy agenda. For further details on the implications of this funding freeze, read the article from AP News.

A comprehensive review of all foreign aid programs is expected in the coming months, which will assess which initiatives can continue based on the alignment with U.S. strategic interests.