U.S. Foreign Aid Suspension Excludes Military Support for Israel and Egypt

A new memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio mandates a freeze on foreign aid under the Trump administration, but military aid for Israel and Egypt, including a shipment of destructive bombs, remains unaffected. This has sparked anxiety among international aid groups reliant on U.S. funding.

In a significant development, the Trump administration has implemented a sweeping suspension of foreign aid, as detailed in a memo distributed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While this executive order halts funding across various sectors, notable exemptions have been made for military support to Israel and Egypt, as well as for emergency food assistance.

On the same day that the memo was issued, the Pentagon received authorization from the White House to proceed with a delivery of 1,800 MK-84 bombs to Israel. This shipment had been previously stalled by President Biden during an attempt to influence Israeli military actions in Gaza, specifically aiming to deter the destruction of the city of Rafah. Notably, these bombs are classified as excessively lethal for urban combat situations.

The memorandum details that U.S. government employees involved in foreign aid must refrain from initiating new funding and to immediately halt existing programs, issuing stop-work orders as necessary. The announcement, which was disseminated widely online, has created a sense of panic among various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world that depend on U.S. dollars for programs addressing critical issues such as disease prevention, child mortality, and climate change mitigation.

Despite these aid suspensions, the U.S. maintains its military alliances with both Israel and Egypt, signaling a clear prioritization of military assistance over humanitarian initiatives in the current geopolitical climate. This dual approach raises complex questions about the implications of U.S. foreign aid policy for vulnerable populations reliant on international support.