Unusual Whales

Marco Rubio officially freezes all US foreign aid except for Israel and Egypt

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Orders Halt to Foreign Aid, Except for Israel and Egypt

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate freeze on nearly all foreign aid, with the sole exceptions being funding for Israel and Egypt, according to an internal State Department memo.

The memo states:

“No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved … as consistent with President Trump’s agenda.”

The broad order impacts a wide range of development and military assistance programs, including potentially cutting aid to Ukraine, which had previously received billions in U.S. military support under President Joe Biden in its fight against Russia’s invasion.

Exceptions for Israel and Egypt

While the memo pauses nearly all foreign assistance, it explicitly exempts military aid to Israel and Egypt.

  • Israel has been a top recipient of U.S. military support for decades, and its arms packages have expanded further in the wake of the Gaza war.
  • Egypt has received consistent U.S. defense funding since signing its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

Immediately after taking office on Monday, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance, citing a need to review spending for efficiency and alignment with his administration’s foreign policy.

However, the full extent of the freeze was not initially clear, and questions remain about whether Trump has legal authority to override the U.S. Congress, which controls the federal budget.

A congressional source, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that Trump's directive is likely unlawful and could have long-term geopolitical consequences:

“Freezing these international investments will lead our international partners to seek other funding sources—likely from U.S. competitors and adversaries—undermining America’s influence the longer this unlawful impoundment continues.”

State Department Implements the Freeze

The State Department memo instructs senior officials to immediately halt all new obligations for foreign assistance until Rubio reviews and approves them.

For existing aid programs, the memo orders “stop-work” notices to be issued immediately, effectively suspending projects until further review.

“Manufactured Chaos” – Aid Groups Express Alarm

The sweeping freeze has sent shockwaves through the international aid community, particularly among organizations working on healthcare, education, and humanitarian relief.

A former senior USAID official, speaking anonymously, called the decision “manufactured chaos”, explaining:

“Organizations will have to stop all activities. That means lifesaving health services—HIV/AIDS treatment, nutrition programs, maternal and child healthcare, agriculture projects, civil society support, education—all of it will be frozen.”

A current USAID official confirmed that staff working on Ukraine aid projects were ordered to cease operations immediately.

“Programs supporting schools, maternal healthcare, childhood vaccinations, and emergency health assistance have all been suspended,” the official said.

The freeze marks one of the most dramatic shifts in U.S. foreign policy in recent history, reinforcing Trump’s "America First" approach while raising serious concerns among lawmakers, foreign allies, and humanitarian organizations.