The United States has initiated a 90-day pause and review of its foreign aid programs, aiming to ensure that every dollar spent aligns with national interests. This decision is already yielding results by identifying wasteful spending and blocking initiatives deemed contrary to American priorities.
The U.S. allocates approximately $40 billion annually to foreign aid, excluding recent support for Ukraine. This amount surpasses the GDP of several U.S. states and represents a significant portion of global humanitarian assistance. The review seeks transparency and accountability in how these funds are used abroad.
A temporary halt on foreign aid allows for scrutiny of programs that have been operating without detailed evaluation. According to the U.S. State Department, this pause prevents funding for various international projects such as contraceptive services in Gaza, climate justice marketing in Gabon, and clean energy initiatives for women in Fiji.
Despite the pause, certain types of funding continue under specific exceptions outlined in an order dated January 24, 2025. Emergency food assistance and other humanitarian aid are permitted following a broad waiver approved on January 28, 2025. Non-humanitarian waivers have also been granted for critical national security needs.
To secure a waiver, bureaus managing foreign assistance must submit detailed requests including program descriptions and justifications. While many requests have been processed successfully, others lack sufficient detail for thorough evaluation.
The process has reportedly saved over $1 billion by preventing spending not aligned with an "America First" agenda. Billions more remain under review as the initiative continues to scrutinize non-emergency or non-life-threatening requests.
