US points pause on overseas support, leaked memo says

The US State Division has issued a halt to all present overseas help and paused new support, in response to an inside memo despatched to officers and US embassies overseas.

The leaked discover follows President Trump’s government order issued on Monday for a 90-day pause in overseas growth help pending a evaluation of efficiencies and consistency together with his overseas coverage.

America is the world’s greatest worldwide support donor spending $68bn in 2023 in response to authorities figures. The State Division discover seems to have an effect on all the things from growth help to army support.

It makes exceptions just for emergency meals support and for army funding for Israel and Egypt. The leaked memo’s contents have been confirmed by the BBC.

“No new funds shall be obligated for brand spanking new awards or extensions of present awards till every proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and accredited,” says the memo to workers.

It provides that US officers “shall instantly problem stop-work orders, in line with the phrases of the related award, till such time because the secretary shall decide, following a evaluation.”

It additionally orders a large scale evaluation of all overseas help to be accomplished inside 85 days to make sure the help adheres to President Trump’s overseas coverage targets.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio – the US’s prime diplomat – has beforehand said that every one US spending overseas ought to happen provided that it makes America “stronger”, “safer” or “extra affluent”.

One former senior State Division official instructed the BBC the discover meant a “probably large” impression on overseas support programmes funded by the US.

“One can think about, for instance, the humanitarian de-mining programmes around the globe immediately being instructed cease work. That is a fairly large deal,” stated Josh Paul, who oversaw Congressional relations on weapons transfers on the State Division till late 2023.

Dave Harden, a former US Company of Worldwide Support (USAID) mission director within the Center East, instructed the BBC the transfer was “very important”, saying it may see humanitarian and growth programmes funded by the US around the globe being instantly suspended, whereas the evaluation is carried out.

He stated it may have an effect on a variety of important growth initiatives together with water, sanitation and shelter.

“The workers of the implementing associate or the [non-governmental organisation] would be capable of be paid, however precise help, I believe, must be halted,” stated Mr Harden.

“I’ve gone by way of [assistance suspensions] many instances once I was the West Financial institution and Gaza mission director, however that was particular to that account. That is international… it is extraordinarily broad,” he stated.

“Not solely does it pause help, nevertheless it places a ‘cease work’ order in present contracts which can be already funded and underway. It is extraordinarily broad,” he added.

The AFP information company reported the funding freeze may additionally probably have an effect on Ukraine, which acquired billions of {dollars} in weapons beneath Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden.

Rubio’s memo, justifying the freeze, stated it was not possible for the brand new administration to evaluate whether or not present overseas support commitments “are usually not duplicated, are efficient and are in line with President Trump’s overseas coverage”.

Rubio has issued a waiver for emergency meals help, in response to the memo.

This comes amid a surge of humanitarian support into the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas started, and a number of other different starvation crises around the globe, together with Sudan.

The memo additionally stated waivers have to this point been accredited by Rubio for “overseas army financing for Israel and Egypt and administrative bills, together with salaries, essential to administer overseas army financing”.

The State Division has been approached for remark.