Secretary of State Rubio Orders 90-Day Foreign Aid Suspension, Exempting Israel and Egypt

Jan 24, 2025, 08:17 PM

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate 90-day suspension of new and existing foreign aid pending a review to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump's policies, according to a State Department memo. The pause affects nearly all U.S. foreign assistance programs worldwide, including aid to key allies such as Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan, with exceptions granted for military financing to Israel and Egypt. The State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance sent a global cable ordering an immediate halt on new foreign aid spending and issued stop-work orders for existing grants and contracts. Exceptions can be approved by the Director of Foreign Assistance.