Secretary of State Marco Rubio Pauses US Foreign Aid for Review
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paused U.S. foreign aid to review its alignment with President Trump's America First agenda, prioritizing efficiency and accountability in foreign assistance funding.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to allow the Trump administration to review the aid to ensure it aligns with the "America First" agenda.
On Sunday, the State Department issued a statement regarding the implementation of President Donald Trump's executive order, which aims to reevaluate and realign foreign aid from the U.S. The statement read, "Consistent with President Trump's Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, Secretary [Marco] Rubio has paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and USAID for review."
Rubio emphasized that this review is a "moral imperative," ensuring taxpayer protection while evaluating how foreign assistance is spent. He stated, "Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?"
This announcement follows directives from the Trump administration, which ordered USAID staff to halt foreign aid or face disciplinary action. A memo sent to over 10,000 USAID staff outlined expectations for achieving Trump's "America First" goals.
Trump had ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid shortly after taking office, reviewing the alignment of this funding with his foreign policy priorities. The U.S. is the largest donor of aid globally, providing $72 billion in assistance during fiscal year 2023 and accounting for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.
Fox News Digital has reached out to USAID for further comments.
