With the recent inauguration of President Donald Trump, the global humanitarian community faces significant disruption as he has ordered a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid. This move, executed immediately after his swearing-in on January 22, 2024, sends shockwaves through organizations already reeling from crises around the globe, including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan.
While the President does not directly control the foreign aid budget—this power resides with Congress—his history of challenging conventional aid practices raises alarm. On his first day back in office, Trump signed executive orders halting foreign assistance pending review, prompting fears among aid groups about the future of their funding.
According to the executive order, "The United States foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and, in many cases, antithetical to American values. They serve to destabilize world peace..." This justification aims to bolster the “America First” agenda, but the repercussions could be dire for millions relying on U.S. support.
Experts express grave concerns about the impact of these orders. Jeremy Konyndyk, former USAID official and now president of Refugees International, warned, “This will kill people. I mean, if implemented as written...a lot of people will die.” This sentiment highlights the immediate threat posed to programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which provides lifesaving treatment to people living with HIV, particularly within Africa.
Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, described the halt as "cruel and deadly," emphasizing the seriousness of the measures' impact on health initiatives worldwide. These voices reflect widespread anxiety about the sustainability and functionality of existing aid programs, which play integral roles in addressing urgent global needs.
Under the executed orders, nearly all existing foreign assistance grants have also been subjected to immediate “stop-work” protocols, effectively pausing operations across the board. Funds previously set aside for various humanitarian aid projects, education initiatives, and health services are now frozen, leaving organizations unprepared and anxious about their next steps.
For U.S. foreign aid, which accounted for approximately $72 billion disbursed globally during the last fiscal year, the freeze could dismantle the framework of support upon which many non-profits and NGOs have built their operations. The State Department’s latest cable outlines how this pause can gut existing awards, with exceptions made primarily for military assistance to traditional allies such as Israel and Egypt.
Mailing out staff directive memos, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the order — effective immediately — stating, "...no new obligations...shall be made for foreign assistance until such time as the Secretary...shall determine, following a review." This creates uncertainty not only for funding but also for the timing and future of U.S. foreign aid agendas.
The rollback on aid initiatives hits at the most vulnerable, particularly those reliant on lifesaving health services and civil society projects. Observers have highlighted how, for countries like Ukraine facing aggression from Russia, the financial vacuum could catalyze setbacks to their support structures as they grapple with armed conflict.
Although Trump's return manifests at a time when humanitarian needs are soaring worldwide, currently reflected by shortfalls identified by the UN, stakeholders are fearful this systematic dismantling of established aid programs will provoke humanitarian disasters. The recent freeze raises questions about the broader perception of U.S. foreign policy, as Republican alignment with Trump’s rhetoric appears solidified compared to previous terms.
Tod Preston, executive director of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN), articulated the core argument against this administration’s approach, saying, "Most folks agree our goal is to end the need for U.S. foreign assistance and to help countries become self-reliant." Yet, this severs the bridge upon which international partners rely for engagement, potentially leaving agencies like USAID with fewer opportunities for effectiveness.
The combination of Trump’s administration’s retrenchment of aid, alongside macroeconomic tensions affecting funding, has propelled numerous reports of crisis within the humanitarian community. Amidst already stretched resources, the resultant chaos from this pause may force organizations to cease operations altogether if they cannot find alternative funding.
Indeed, the immediate challenge of reorganizing and adapting to new protocols is set against the backdrop of dramatic increases in global need. Konyndyk surmised the freeze's impact accurately — illustrating how effectively dismantling the infrastructure of foreign assistance amounts to dismantling lives and lifelines.
Whether this drastic reconfiguration will hold long-term remains uncertain. With congressional pushback appearing more tempered this time, stakeholders have begun preparing contingencies for the incoming policies and the anticipated chaos within operational budgets.
For millions across the globe, the ramifications of this executive order are not merely bureaucratic; they could mean the difference between life and death for those served. The coming weeks will reveal whether advocacy and pushback can preserve any semblance of stability for U.S. humanitarian commitments during Trump's current administration.