Organizations implementing programs funded by the U.S. government around the globe have begun to cut staff, shut down operations, or prepare to halt their activities, following the unprecedented freeze on all international aid imposed by President Trump’s administration.
On Monday, more than 50 senior officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), who were involved in executing the president’s order to freeze aid, were suspended with pay.
The acting director of USAID stated that he was investigating whether the officials were resisting the president’s orders.
For decades, the U.S. stance has been that foreign aid returned to America in the form of strengthened national security, stabilization of regions, and improved relations with partners.
Allied countries, including Ukraine, are trying to save part of the funds for their security from the 90-day freeze, ordered last week by President Donald Trump, which also suspended aid programs and federal credits within the United States.
The Trump administration claims that the freeze was ordered to give time to determine which of the thousands of humanitarian, development, and security programs will continue to receive funding from the United States.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have ordered that expenditures on programs be halted immediately. The only exceptions are emergency food aid and military assistance for two allied countries, Israel and Egypt.
