President Trump's sudden freeze on U.S. foreign aid, coupled with a 'stop work' order for ongoing grants and contracts, has thrown the global aid system into disarray. This move puts millions of people who rely on humanitarian aid at risk and threatens the livelihoods of aid workers worldwide.
President Donald Trump, at the start of his second term, has implemented a sweeping freeze on U.S. foreign aid. This move, initiated with an executive order on Monday, has been further amplified by a State Department memo issued on Friday, mandating a 'stop work' order for all ongoing grants and contracts funded by the U.S. government for foreign aid programs. The memo, obtained by NPR, instructs all programs reliant on U.S.
funding to halt operations immediately, pending a 90-day review to align them with President Trump's foreign policy objectives. \This abrupt halt in funding is expected to have severe repercussions for organizations and individuals involved in delivering aid worldwide. Many organizations receiving U.S. development funding are based in the countries where they operate, employing both local and American staff. This 'stop work' order puts these employees at risk of furlough, layoffs, and the potential loss of their livelihoods. A senior USAID official, speaking anonymously to NPR, expressed deep concern about the memo's impact, calling the 'stop work' order 'completely reckless.' The official stated that the order not only threatens U.S. foreign aid programs and their beneficiaries but also disrupts the daily lives of aid workers who rely on their income to support their families. \The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, states that a comprehensive review of all foreign assistance will be completed within 85 days, resulting in a report submitted to the Secretary of State for his recommendation to the President. While USAID overseas employees will not be directly affected, the impact on local and American staff working for organizations that receive U.S. funding is profound. The leader of a humanitarian organization partnered with USAID told NPR that the order has 'thrown a grenade right into the middle of foreign assistance,' putting people's lives at risk. This individual, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal against their organization, explained that the uncertainty surrounding funding makes it impossible to continue critical services in the field, forcing them to potentially lay off both US and local staff.
FOREIGN AID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION USAID HUMANITARIAN CRISIS GLOBAL AID SYSTEM
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