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demmiblue

(37,962 posts) Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:32 PM Friday

State Department issues immediate, widespread pause on foreign aid

Source: Politico

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday issued new guidance halting spending on most existing foreign aid grants for 90 days. The order, which shocked State Department officials, appears to apply to funding for military assistance to Ukraine.

Rubio’s guidance, issued to all diplomatic and consular posts, requires department staffers to issue “stop-work orders” on nearly all “existing foreign assistance awards,” according to the document, which was obtained by POLITICO. It is effective immediately.

It appears to go further than President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which instructed the department to pause foreign aid grants for 90 days pending review by the secretary. It had not been clear from the president’s order if it would affect already appropriated funds or Ukraine aid.

The new guidance means no further actions will be taken to disperse aid funding to programs already approved by the U.S. government, according to three current and two former officials familiar with the new guidance.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/24/state-department-foreign-aid-pause-00200510

9 replies

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State Department issues immediate, widespread pause on foreign aid (Original Post) demmiblue Friday OP

It's permanent, 90 days is just to acclimate the public to the dissolution of the State. /nt bucolic_frolic Friday #1

Isolation....... Lovie777 Friday #2

Because Trump's goal is to destroy America Fullduplexxx Friday #3

Great depression: people lose everything and rich snap it all up cheap. Irish_Dem Friday #6

The GOP and billionaires want the foreign aid dollars for their own pockets. Irish_Dem Friday #4

If money is appropriated by the House bluestarone Friday #5

Time for a major market drop coming? bluestarone Friday #7

This may not affect Ukraine in the immediate future as I remember reading that Biden had in2herbs Friday #8

US orders halt to virtually all foreign aid except funding to Israel and Egypt muriel_volestrangler Friday #9

bucolic_frolic

(48,219 posts)

1. It's permanent, 90 days is just to acclimate the public to the dissolution of the State. /nt

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:37 PM

Friday

Lovie777

(15,942 posts)

2. Isolation.......

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:38 PM

Friday

Early 20th century. The crazies are doing the exact same shit that lead to the Great Depression.

Fullduplexxx

(8,410 posts)

3. Because Trump's goal is to destroy America

Reply to Lovie777 (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:40 PM

Friday

Irish_Dem

(62,144 posts)

6. Great depression: people lose everything and rich snap it all up cheap.

Reply to Lovie777 (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:42 PM

Friday

The rich get it all for pennies on the dollar.

Irish_Dem

(62,144 posts)

4. The GOP and billionaires want the foreign aid dollars for their own pockets.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:40 PM

Friday

And Trump will insist on bribes/favors from foreign countries to get any help at all.

bluestarone

(18,585 posts)

5. If money is appropriated by the House

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:41 PM

Friday

How can it be stopped? Jesus H Christ!

bluestarone

(18,585 posts)

7. Time for a major market drop coming?

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:45 PM

Friday

They are playing with fire here.

in2herbs

(3,370 posts)

8. This may not affect Ukraine in the immediate future as I remember reading that Biden had

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:49 PM

Friday

given all the money that had been appropriated for Ukraine assistance (billions) to NATO countries to spend (to help Ukraine) before he left office.

muriel_volestrangler

(102,865 posts)

9. US orders halt to virtually all foreign aid except funding to Israel and Egypt

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 06:28 PM

Friday

The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has ordered a halt to virtually all US foreign aid, but made an exception for funding to Israel and Egypt, according to an internal memo to staff at the US state department.

“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,” said the memo.

The sweeping order appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid – including potentially to Ukraine, which received billions of dollars in weapons under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden as it tries to repel a Russian invasion.
...
“Organizations will have to stop all activities, so all lifesaving health services, HIV/Aids, nutrition, maternal and child health, all agriculture work, all support of civil society organizations, education,” said the official.

A USAID official, who requested anonymity, said officers responsible for projects in Ukraine have been told to stop all work. Among the projects that have been frozen are support to schools and health assistance like emergency maternal care and childhood vaccinations, the official said.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/foreign-aid-israel-egypt

So Trump bloviates about putting more sanctions on Russia (when there are practically no mor than can be imposed), but his actions are: cut off all aid to Ukraine.

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