WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver on Tuesday allowing life-saving humanitarian assistance to continue during a 90-day pause in foreign aid, Reuters reported, quoting a State Department memo.
The waiver follows President Donald Trump’s decision last week to suspend foreign aid contributions while his administration reviews whether they align with his “America First” foreign policy. The pause, announced just hours after Trump took office, has sparked concern among aid groups and international organizations.
The aid suspension has also disrupted numerous humanitarian projects in Afghanistan, where international assistance remains a critical lifeline for millions.
Rubio had already granted an exemption on Friday for emergency food assistance. The new waiver extends to core life-saving aid, including essential medicines, medical services, food, shelter, and other subsistence support, along with reasonable administrative costs necessary for their delivery.
“This waiver does not apply to activities that involve abortions, family planning conferences, administrative costs … gender or DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-life-saving assistance,” Rubio’s memo stated.
The foreign aid freeze puts billions of dollars in assistance at risk. The United States, the world’s largest single donor, disbursed $72 billion in foreign aid in the 2023 fiscal year.
The scope of Trump’s order initially caused confusion among U.S. lawmakers, aid organizations, and the United Nations. The State Department sought to clarify the policy on Friday when it issued a “stop-work” order for all existing foreign assistance and halted new aid, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday urged the United States to consider additional exemptions to “ensure continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities.”
