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Trump Halts Foreign Aid to Ukraine – American Faith

Trump Halts Foreign Aid to Ukraine. Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new guidance on Friday halting the disbursement of most foreign aid grants for 90 days. This move includes a pause on military aid to Ukraine, according to a report by Politico. The directive follows an executive order from President Donald Trump requiring a review of foreign aid spending.

The halt is effective immediately and applies to nearly all existing foreign assistance awards. Exceptions were made for military aid to key allies such as Israel and Egypt. Rubio’s directive shocked many within the State Department, with some officials describing the action as unprecedented.

Rubio’s guidance reportedly extends beyond the parameters of Trump’s executive order, which called for a temporary pause on foreign aid to assess its necessity and alignment with U.S. interests. Under the new rules, no additional actions will be taken to release funds already appropriated for foreign programs, including those designated for Ukraine.

This decision marks a stark departure from the policies of the Biden administration, which allocated significant resources to Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Congress approved nearly $175 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine, with an additional $8 billion announced during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington in September 2024.

Critics of the Biden administration’s approach argue that the historic levels of foreign aid prioritized overseas spending at the expense of addressing domestic issues such as inflation, economic challenges, and the ongoing border crisis.

The temporary halt under the Trump administration aims to reassess priorities and ensure that foreign aid spending aligns with U.S. strategic interests. The pause reflects the administration’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility and a recalibration of America’s foreign aid commitments.

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