According to Trump, the foreign aid industry and bureaucracy do not always align with American interests and "in many cases contradict American values," and may lead to "destabilization of the world globally" due to the promotion of ideas in foreign countries that are "directly opposite to harmonious and stable relationships within and between nations."
Under this decree, all future foreign aid provided by America must be consistent with Trump's foreign policy.
The document stipulates that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio or an authorized representative has the authority to make decisions regarding the provision of aid after consulting with the administrative budget office.
As noted by Associated Press, it is currently unclear what specific amount of aid will be affected by the decree signed by Trump, as many programs have already been allocated by Congress and funds must be used if they have not been spent yet.
Trump has long been an opponent of foreign aid, but according to the agency, it typically constitutes about 1% of the federal budget. However, this percentage does not account for emergency circumstances, such as providing Ukraine with weapons worth "billions of dollars" to strengthen its defense capabilities in the war against the aggressor nation, Russia.
The latest official report on foreign aid under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden dates back to mid-December and the 2023 budget year, AP reports. The document mentions $68 billion allocated for programs abroad, which include disaster relief, healthcare, and pro-democracy initiatives in 204 countries and regions.
The largest recipients of American aid, according to the agency, are Israel ($3.3 billion per year), Egypt ($1.5 billion per year), and Jordan ($1.7 billion per year). However, these countries are unlikely to feel a sudden reduction, as these amounts are part of long-term packages and in some cases are governed by contractual obligations.
AP emphasizes that the focus of Republicans for budget cuts has always been on United Nations agencies, particularly peacekeeping, human rights, and refugee organizations. The first Trump administration initiated cuts to foreign aid spending, suspending payments to various UN institutions, such as the United Nations Population Fund, as well as funding for the Palestinian Authority.