Rubio partially backtracks with memo on damaging suspension of foreign aid
Washington DC - Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday partially walked back a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance, saying the US would keep funding humanitarian items such as shelter and medicine.
President Donald Trump on returning office last week ordered a 90-day pause to review assistance by the US, the world's largest donor in dollar terms.
Rubio followed up by freezing virtually all funding, though he specified exemptions for emergency food as well as military assistance to Israel and Egypt.
In a follow-up memo on Tuesday, after an outcry from aid groups, Rubio clarified that other "humanitarian assistance" besides food would also be exempt during the review period.
Humanitarian assistance was defined as "core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance," Rubio wrote in the memo, the contents of which were confirmed to AFP.
It would not cover "activities that involve abortions, family planning conferences, administrative costs other than those covered by gender or DEI ideology programs, transgender surgeries or other non-life saving assistance."
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, writing on X, said, "Urgent needs are being met."
"Blanket waivers are in place for emergency food and other emergency humanitarian assistance. And a waiver process exists for items not covered by pre-existing waivers," she wrote.
Bruce said that the goal was to get rid of "egregious" funding and programs not in line with Trump administration priorities.
She pointed in part to efforts related to assistance on climate change and gender.
"The mandate from the American people was clear – we must refocus on American national interests," she said.
Major health and aid programs at risk
Aid groups and Democratic lawmakers have voiced alarm over potentially far-reaching consequences of the freeze.
The latest waiver would appear to give the go-ahead for funding for medication under PEPFAR, a major US program against HIV/AIDS.
Established in 2003 under former president George W. Bush, PEPFAR is credited with saving some 26 million lives.
Speaking before the latest waiver, ONE, the aid advocacy group co-founded by U2 singer Bono, voiced hope for exemptions but warned that "bureaucratic red tape" could still impact PEPFAR funding.
"Our adversaries will capitalize on this gap in US leadership and promote disinformation which will undermine trust in the US and damage our reputation around the world," said Elizabeth Hoffman, North America executive director at ONE.
The Trump administration has already sown chaos in its short time in office. Also on Tuesday, a federal judged blocked an order pausing disbursement of federal grants, loans, and aid totaling billions of dollars.
Cover photo: REUTERS