U.S. Halts Foreign Aid Except for Israel and Egypt

The United States has temporarily suspended foreign aid to all countries except Israel and Egypt, reports NewsBox.
This decision is linked to the initiation of a review process for the funds provided, according to the U.S. State Department.
The directive, approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mandates halting all programs funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) until the analysis is completed, writes «Ostorozhno, Novosti».
The order to suspend financial support affects humanitarian and social projects, with the exception of military aid to Ukraine, which will continue in full. Among the initiatives frozen in Ukraine are support programs for schools, emergency aid to mothers, and child vaccination efforts.
This move is part of a broader directive signed by former President Donald Trump. The document calls for a 90-day pause in foreign assistance to allow evaluation of its effectiveness and alignment with U.S. national interests. Trump had previously criticized aid to countries he believed acted contrary to American interests.
High-ranking officials in the State Department are required to ensure no new foreign aid commitments are made until the review is complete. «We must be sure that every dollar of American taxpayers is used with maximum benefit», the directive states.
It is separately emphasized that funding for Israel and Egypt will remain unaffected. These countries are considered strategic priorities in the region.
USAID employees responsible for projects in Ukraine have already been instructed to halt their work. An agency representative stated that specific timelines for resuming funding have not been determined, and the scope of the frozen initiatives remains significant.