White House chief halts US foreign aid for 90 days to review programs
Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days. This decision is to check their compliance with his administration's foreign policy goals.
The White House and the AP reported this.
The document notes that aid from other countries "contributes to the destabilization of world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly opposed to harmonious and stable relations both within countries and between them."
It also states that "the foreign aid industry and bureaucracy do not serve America's interests and, in many cases, contradict American values."
Then Trump declared that "no further foreign aid from the United States will be provided in a manner that is not fully consistent with the foreign policy of the President of the United States."
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:
"Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we enact must be justified by answering three questions:
Does it make America safer?
Does it make America stronger?
Does it make America more prosperous?"
Under the new rules, Rubio or his designee will decide on foreign aid after consulting with the Office of Management and Budget.
It is worth noting that Rubio called Russia an "aggressor" while also saying that the new administration "wants the war to end."
"Russia is the aggressor in this conflict, but this war needs to end. And at the end of the day, that's the complexity of foreign policy," Rubio said, speaking to reporters Monday after his unanimous Senate confirmation.
The new Secretary of State said he could not set a time frame for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine and added that he expects both sides to make some concessions to achieve peace.
"We want the war to end. That's pretty clear," Rubio said.
For reference:
On January 9, the United States allocated a new military aid package of $500 million to Ukraine.
This was the last aid package to Ukraine announced by the Joe Biden administration before Donald Trump's team came to power.
Thus, about $3.8 billion for the PDA program will remain unused despite the White House's promise to spend the entire amount by the end of Biden's term.
According to the Pentagon, these funds will be available to Donald Trump after his inauguration on January 20.
The Pentagon noted that the new Donald Trump administration will be able to use them to support Ukraine if it decides to do so.
