WASHINGTON — The recent overhaul of the U.S. agency responsible for delivering humanitarian aid has resulted in the suspension of dozens of senior officials, the layoff of thousands of contractors, and a significant freeze on billions of dollars in foreign assistance.
In defense of this pause on foreign aid, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “the U.S. government is not a charity.”
Humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concerns over the funding freeze, which has sparked confusion regarding which U.S.-funded programs must cease operations. They warn that halting critical initiatives, such as nutritional support for severely malnourished children, could lead to devastating consequences, potentially costing lives.
Officials from both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have revealed that employees were invited to submit requests for exemptions to the foreign aid freeze enacted on January 20. Details on executing the freeze were provided on January 24. Just three days later, 56 senior career USAID staff members were placed on administrative leave.
Sources indicate that many of those affected were attorneys tasked with determining potential waivers for essential programs. Concerns persist regarding an administrative directive interpreted as a gag order, leaving aid organizations hesitant to speak out for fear of losing U.S. funding.
In an internal memo, acting USAID administrator Jason Gray highlighted that the agency identified actions that seemed to contradict the President’s Executive Orders. He informed staff members that several USAID employees would remain on paid administrative leave while an investigation was ongoing.
A former senior USAID official emphasized that those placed on leave were instrumental in guiding aid organizations through the complex waiver process, crucial for continuing life-saving measures like clean water supplies for displaced populations.
Additionally, contractors, who represent a significant portion of the workforce in USAID’s humanitarian bureau, were abruptly laid off, creating further disruption to ongoing projects. The staffing changes followed the State Department’s recent issuance of guidelines aimed at implementing the foreign assistance freeze as part of a 90-day review period.
The guidelines primarily exempt military aid to Israel and Egypt, along with emergency food programs, while allowing program managers to apply for waivers for projects aligning with administration objectives. However, clarity remains elusive regarding which U.S.-funded programs can legitimately continue operations, raising concerns over access to medicine and essential supplies for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Despite the announcement of broader waivers for “life-saving” assistance, including critical medical services and food provisions, uncertainty persists for numerous aid programs globally. As organizations sound alarms about the adverse impact of the funding freeze, the situation remains critical as the U.S. government reviews its humanitarian aid policies.
