In a dramatic return to the “America First” agenda that characterized his previous presidency, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, halting all US foreign development assistance for 90 days. This decision, part of a broader reassessment of US foreign aid strategy, underscores Trump’s commitment to refocusing national priorities on domestic issues while re-evaluating the global impact of American financial assistance.

The executive order, announced alongside a flurry of other directives on Trump’s first day back in office, tasks federal agencies with conducting a comprehensive review of existing aid programs. The review, overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to determine whether US foreign aid aligns with national interests and values.

“Current allocations of US foreign aid are not aligned with American interests and, in many cases, promote ideas antithetical to American values,” the executive order stated. It further argued that such programs “destabilize world peace by encouraging discord within and between nations.”

The 90-day freeze applies broadly to all US foreign development assistance, although the exact financial scope remains unclear. Many programs have already received congressional allocations, potentially limiting the immediate impact of the freeze. However, the executive order grants Secretary Rubio authority to waive the suspension for specific programs deemed critical to US interests.

This decision has far-reaching implications, particularly for nations heavily reliant on US aid, such as Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. It marks a significant departure from the policies of former President Joe Biden, who championed robust international assistance,........

© Blitz