In a media note release January 28, 2025, the State Department has taken steps to inform the public why they are freezing foreign aid. The note emphasizes that the freeze is driven by the need to scrutinize foreign aid programs to ensure every dollar spent aligns with America’s national interests. Here’s how they frame it:
Americans are a hardworking and generous people, who have sacrificed their blood and treasure to help their fellow man across the globe. But no foreign nation is entitled to those benefits, and no foreign aid program is above scrutiny.
The intention of the review is described as rooting out wasteful spending, blocking programs that don’t align with national interests. The emphasis is placed on every dollar spent to ensure it makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
The media note explains that programs on “autopilot” lack incentives for participants to share details, leading to waste. Examples of spending they have already blocked include “… condoms (and other contraceptive services) in Gaza, climate justice marketing services in Gabon, clean energy programs for women in Fiji, support for gender development programs, family planning throughout Latin America, sex education and pro-abortion programs for young girls globally.”
Exceptions include emergency food assistance and broad humanitarian aid defined as life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, etc. Waivers for non-humanitarian assistance are for national security reasons.
The waiver process requires:
- Bureau/Office/Mission Name
- Program Name
- Program Description
- Program Location(s)
- Intended Programmatic Outcome
- Justification for Waiver
- Fiscal and Earmark information
The media note states that many requests were processed successfully, but some lacked sufficient detail for thorough evaluation. At this point over $1 billion in spending not aligned with the America First agenda has been prevented in just a few days.
Read the January 28, 2025 media note here.