US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate 90-day halt to funding for nearly all foreign aid programs.
As Politico reports, the order is likely to affect military aid to Ukraine.
According to the publication, the document, sent to all US diplomatic and consular offices, instructs all State Department officials to issue an order to “stop“ nearly all “existing foreign aid grants“.
It is emphasized that the order will take effect immediately. As Politico writes, the document leaves “room for interpretation“ and “provides for some exceptions”. In particular, military funding programs for Israel and Egypt will continue.
At the same time, the newspaper's sources reported that the measures are likely to lead to the suspension of aid to Ukraine, Jordan and the island of Taiwan. The document also states that decisions to continue, change or terminate foreign aid funding programs will be made based on a review conducted by the Secretary of State.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended projects related to aid to Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing sources in the agency.
According to them, among the frozen projects are aid in the field of health, including vaccination of children, as well as support for schools.