Fri Jan 24 23:38:24 UTC 2025: ## US Freezes Nearly All Foreign Aid in “America First” Overhaul
**Washington D.C.** – The United States has dramatically curtailed its foreign aid program, freezing nearly all funding in a sweeping move that has sparked international concern. The decision, announced Friday, comes as a direct result of the Trump administration’s newly implemented “America First” policy, prioritizing domestic concerns over international assistance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an internal memo detailing the freeze, with exceptions made only for emergency food aid and military funding to Israel and Egypt. The memo halts all new funding for existing and proposed programs until a comprehensive review is completed within 85 days.
This freeze affects a wide range of programs, including crucial aid to Ukraine, which has received billions in weaponry under the previous administration to combat Russian aggression. The move also temporarily suspends funding for PEPFAR, the highly successful anti-HIV/AIDS initiative credited with saving millions of lives in Africa.
While the memo cites a need to assess the effectiveness and alignment of existing aid programs with the President’s foreign policy goals, critics argue the decision will have devastating consequences. Oxfam, a leading anti-poverty organization, denounced the move as an abandonment of longstanding US support for international development. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, stated that suspending these programs could have “life or death consequences” for millions.
Other humanitarian groups echoed these concerns, urging the administration to prioritize the continued flow of vital assistance, particularly for disaster relief. The US, historically the world’s largest foreign aid donor, provided over $64 billion in overseas development assistance in 2023. The freeze, therefore, represents a significant shift in US foreign policy, raising questions about the country’s commitment to global humanitarian efforts. The long-term implications of this drastic measure remain to be seen.
First Piper 