A sudden halt to U.S. foreign aid by the Trump administration will not affect weapons support to Israel and Egypt, nor emergency food assistance, according to a memo issued by the State Department to its bureaus and U.S. missions overseas.
On the same day, the White House informed the Pentagon that it could proceed with a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which President Biden had previously halted last summer. The shipment, consisting of 1,800 MK-84 bombs, was deemed by U.S. military officers to be too lethal for urban combat. Prior to the halt, the Biden administration had sent these bombs to Israel as its military engaged in conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The memo regarding foreign aid was sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and outlines the expectations for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) during a 90-day reassessment period following an executive order signed by President Trump on Monday after his inauguration.
Under the memo, employees working on foreign aid are instructed to refrain from designating new funding, processing applications, and to issue “stop-work” orders to groups that have received grants. This has caused concern among organizations worldwide that depend on U.S. foreign aid for various programs, including disease prevention and climate change mitigation.
Many organizations have indicated they may need to halt operations immediately, leading to potential layoffs or salary suspensions.
The State Department also manages military aid to allies and has specified in the memo that Israel and Egypt are exempt from the foreign aid halt. Both countries receive foreign military financing to purchase weapons and military equipment from U.S. manufacturers.
The suspension of foreign aid will impact military assistance to Ukraine, Taiwan, Lebanon, and other partner nations, including NATO members. Much of the urgent aid for Ukraine has already been distributed as it continues its defensive efforts against Russia.
Military support for Israel remains a contentious topic in the U.S. Following significant strikes against Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli forces, using American bombs, there has been increased criticism of longstanding bipartisan military aid policies. Former President Biden approved $26 billion in military aid to Israel following the outbreak of conflict, while Trump has expressed intentions to continue support for Israel.
Some lawmakers, particularly from the Democratic Party, have also voiced opposition to the substantial arms aid provided to Egypt. Last year, Congress approved $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, with $320 million contingent on a State Department review of Egypt's human rights practices. In September, Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the full amount despite ongoing criticism of Egypt’s human rights record.
The memo also mandates that officials establish a central database for all U.S. foreign aid and that all aid must receive approval from Rubio or designated individuals to ensure alignment with American foreign policy. The director of the office of policy planning, Michael Anton, is tasked with developing guidelines for aid review within 30 days. Anton previously served on the National Security Council during Trump’s first administration and is recognized for his influential writings advocating for significant conservative changes in American policy.