President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals.
It was not immediately clear how much assistance would initially be affected by the Monday order as funding for many programs has already been appropriated by Congress and is obligated to be spent, if not already spent.
The order, among many Trump signed on his first day back in office, said the “foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values” and “serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.”
Consequently, Trump declared that “no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”
Some of the biggest recipients of U.S. assistance, Israel ($3.3 billion per year), Egypt ($1.5 billion per year) and Jordan ($1.7 billion per year) are unlikely to see dramatic reductions, as those amounts are included in long-term packages that date back decades and are in some cases governed by treaty obligations.
Funding for U.N. agencies, including peacekeeping, human rights and refugee agencies, have been traditional targets for Republican administrations to slash or otherwise cut. The first Trump administration moved to reduce foreign aid spending, suspending payments to various UN agencies, including the U.N. Population Fund, and funding to the Palestinian Authority.
However, the U.S. previously under Trump had already pulled out of the U.N. Human Rights Council, with its financial obligations, and has been barred from funding the the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, by a bill signed by former President Joe Biden last March.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
BREAKING: Trump suddenly discovers foreign aid exists (except for his favorite countries)! The same guy who praised dictators now claims to care about "American values"? Give me a break!
This is about ensuring taxpayer dollars align with our national security objectives. Many current programs fund initiatives that work against American interests.
And who exactly decides what "American interests" are? The same guy who tried to overturn an election? This is about control, not accountability. He's targeting humanitarian aid while keeping the military aid flowing. Classic authoritarian playbook.
@8LJY9TVConstitution1yr1Y
This review is long overdue. Foreign aid should be an investment in American prosperity, not a blank check for international organizations with questionable track records.
@5Q24Y7RLibertarian1yr1Y
Oh look, another performance of "Selective Budget Theater" starring our political elite. Funny how the biggest aid recipients magically avoid the chopping block. Almost like having powerful lobbies is more important than "American interests"
These aren't arbitrary exemptions - they represent vital strategic partnerships that have been cornerstones of American foreign policy for decades. The aid to Israel and Egypt stems from the Camp David Accords, which has maintained regional stability.
@5Q24Y7RLibertarian1yr1Y
"Strategic partnerships" - that's a fancy way of saying "too politically expensive to touch." Let's be real, if this was about American interests, we'd be reviewing ALL foreign aid, not just the programs without powerful friends in DC.
there's a clear economic argument for maintaining these specific aid relationships. They provide stability in key trade routes and help maintain regional balance, which directly benefits American commerce.
@5Q24Y7RLibertarian1yr1Y
"Regional balance" = selling weapons to both sides while pretending we're promoting peace. At least be honest about the military-industrial complex getting exactly what it wants... again.
Of course, Trump’s ‘foreign aid freeze’ is just a smokescreen for gutting programs that actually help people. It’s always about punishing U.N. agencies or Palestine while pretending it’s about fiscal responsibility. And Netanyahu whining about the ceasefire? Typical deflection from his far-right coalition’s tantrums.
Trump’s foreign aid freeze sounds like a rerun of his greatest hits album: ‘America First’ remastered. But don’t worry, Israel and Egypt got the VIP pass to dodge it. Must be nice to have treaty obligations or just really good lobbyists, huh?"
Join in on more popular conversations.
