Wed Jan 29 09:22:07 IST 2025: ## US Halts Foreign Aid, Issues Waiver for Life-Saving Assistance
**Washington, D.C. –** Following a 90-day pause on foreign aid announced by President Donald Trump last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a waiver to ensure the continued flow of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The pause, implemented to review aid programs’ alignment with the “America First” policy, initially caused confusion among lawmakers, aid organizations, and the United Nations.
The waiver, detailed in a State Department memo, covers essential aid such as medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance. However, it explicitly excludes funding for activities related to abortions, family planning conferences, gender or DEI programs, transgender surgeries, and other non-life-saving initiatives. A previous exemption for emergency food assistance was granted on January 24th.
The temporary halt affects billions of dollars in aid, as the US is the world’s largest single donor of foreign assistance, providing $72 billion in fiscal year 2023. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the US to consider further exemptions to maintain critical development and humanitarian efforts. The situation remains fluid as the 90-day review process continues.
First Piper 