The U.S. State Department has initiated a 90-day pause and review of foreign aid programs, which is reportedly yielding positive results for the country. According to the Office of the Spokesperson, this move aims to eliminate wasteful spending and prevent funding for programs that do not align with national interests.
The United States allocates approximately $40 billion annually to foreign aid, a figure that surpasses the GDP of several U.S. states and represents a significant portion of global humanitarian assistance. The spokesperson emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in how these funds are utilized abroad.
The temporary halt on foreign aid was implemented because ongoing programs often lack detailed evaluation due to insufficient incentives for participants to disclose information. "A temporary pause, with commonsense waivers for truly life-threatening situations, is the only way to scrutinize and prevent waste," stated the department.
Programs that have been blocked during this period include contraceptive services in Gaza, climate justice marketing in Gabon, clean energy initiatives for women in Fiji, and various gender development projects. These activities were deemed not beneficial to America's safety or prosperity.
However, exceptions have been made for essential humanitarian aid such as emergency food assistance and life-saving medical services. A broad waiver was approved on January 28, 2025, allowing necessary humanitarian support to continue.
Waivers have also been granted for non-humanitarian purposes critical to national security, including protecting U.S. personnel overseas and enforcing non-proliferation obligations.
To secure a waiver under this new process, bureaus managing foreign assistance must submit detailed requests including program descriptions and justifications. This procedure has already been used successfully multiple times since its introduction on January 24, 2025.
The review process has led to significant savings; over $1 billion in spending not aligned with an America First agenda has been prevented so far.