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The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has halted the issuance of most existing foreign aid grants for a period of 90 days. This order may put a stop to military assistance funding to Ukraine.
This information comes from Politico.
According to a document obtained by the media, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed all diplomatic and consular missions to immediately cease the implementation of most foreign aid programs. This directive requires the suspension of funding for nearly all active grants.
As reported by Politico, the scale of this action surpasses the previous order from President Donald Trump, which called for a 90-day freeze of foreign aid for review. However, it remained unclear whether this decision would affect funds that had already been allocated, including assistance to Ukraine.
According to several government officials, the implementation of new programs is being halted, but funds for already approved projects are currently remaining untouched.
Response and Exceptions
The order has surprised officials at the State Department due to its magnitude. One department employee noted that the department has essentially focused solely on foreign aid.
The document outlines certain exceptions. Funding for military assistance to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food aid, will continue. Additionally, expenditures related to already established contracts are permitted if they comply with their terms.
At the same time, analysts warn that halting several programs could lead to legal disputes, as failure to meet contractual obligations may result in lawsuits against the U.S. government.
The Fate of Aid to Ukraine
There is significant concern regarding the potential cessation of financial support for Ukraine. This could undermine the country's efforts to counter Russian aggression. Some officials have expressed worries that Ukraine, alongside Jordan and Taiwan, may become one of the countries to lose U.S. aid.
It is anticipated that within 85 days, the State Department will prepare a report with recommendations on which foreign aid programs should be preserved and which should be terminated.
The issue of foreign aid has been repeatedly criticized by Donald Trump and Republicans, who deemed the expenditures excessive during the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The current decision continues the policy of optimizing costs for international programs.