On January 24, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an order to terminate the costs of most foreign aid programs for 90 days. According to Politico , this decision affects the already approved grants, and is probably also concerned with military assistance to Ukraine.
The order came into force immediately and extends to US diplomatic and consular institutions around the world. According to the document, all programs previously approved must be paused until they have been reviewed.
Rubio order complements and expands President Donald Trump's previous decree, which also envisaged a temporary suspension of grant expenses. However, the current order is broader in scale and applies to even distributed funds.
According to Politico , this step has caused a significant shock in the State Department. Some officials are concerned about the possible consequences of such a decision, especially for countries that are key allies of the United States, including Ukraine, Jordan and Taiwan.
The document provides several exceptions. In particular, military assistance for Egypt and Israel, as well as extraordinary food assistance, will continue. In addition, the costs already incurred within the framework of the contracts are recognized as "legitimate".
However, officials say that this order leaves space for interpretation, which can lead to legal disputes. In case of breach of contract terms, the US government may face claims, experts say.
Of particular concern is the possibility of suspension of assistance to Ukraine. Against the background of a continuing war with Russia, support for the United States is critical for the country's defense capability. However, it now remains in question whether military assistance programs will be renewed after viewing.
It is expected that within 85 days the State Department will prepare a report that will accompany Rubio's recommendations on which programs should be continued and which to stop.
