The US State Department is suspending foreign aid, Reuters reports.
The order, drafted by the US State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance and approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, says it is halting military funding for Israel and Egypt.
Just hours after taking office, Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid while he reviewed the effectiveness and consistency of his foreign policy, but the scope of the order was unclear.
The State Department order, effective immediately, said senior officials would “ensure that no new foreign aid commitments are made to the maximum extent permitted by law” until Rubio decides after the review.
A USAID official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters that those responsible for projects in Ukraine had been told to stop all work. The frozen projects include support for schools and health care, including emergency maternal care and vaccinations for children.
