The Department of Foreign Affairs has moved to blackmail foreign aid that lives dramatically for countries around the world, according to several US officials who are familiar with this problem.
The latest cuts include the termination of all the remaining US bodies for international development contracts that support the delivery of food, water and drugs to population in Afghanistan and Yemen, the cancellation of the largest Food Program (WFP) contract for Somalia, and the termination of several awards that fund critical assistance in Syria and Lebanon, three officials who told ABC.
A USAID flag fluttered outside, because the USAID building was closed to employees after the memo was issued by agent personnel who advised to work remotely, in Washington, DC, February 3, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
Jordan, Haiti, Gaza, Niger, Palau and Papua New Guinea, as well as several other countries and major aid groups, also saw significant rescue assistance contracts in the last few days, they added.
The last cutting round to help a total of more than $ 1.3 billion, according to Oneid, a grassroots advocacy group consisting of experts and USAID partners who are ex and today.
This also marks a clear reversal for the Department of Foreign Affairs, who previously granted the release of funds to continue after the massive reduction of Trump administration in US foreign assistance encouraged widespread reactions.
Foreign Department Spokesman Tammy Bruce confirmed during the press briefing on Tuesday that the United States had eliminated many contracts.
However, he argues that most of the funds for WFP are not affected, saying, “First of the first, 85% of the USAID program that previously existed with a world food program throughout the world remains active and sustainable.
He noted that several WFP programs have been stopped “based on the priority of the country or certain program levels.”
“The biggest world food program award group that ended was in Yemen and Afghanistan through executive orders issued based on concerns that funding benefits terrorist groups, including Houthi and the Taliban,” he said. “Another award ended because they provided cash -based assistance, which was diverted by the government, giving concerns about the abuse and lack of accountability that was appropriate for American taxpayers here at home.”
WFP confirmed on Monday that the US government had told the organization that funding for emergency food assistance in 14 countries had been dismissed.
“If applied, this can mean the death penalty for millions of people who face hunger and extreme hunger,” WFP said in a statement. “We relate to US administration to seek clarification and urgent for continuous support for this life -saving program.”
State Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with reporters on his plane while flying from Suriname on his way to Miami, March 27, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
ABC News reaches the Department of Foreign Affairs to comment on cuts but does not receive responses.
It is unclear what motivated the recent funding round of the funding, but an official said they were ordered by Jeremy Lewin, Deputy Administrator of USAID for a policy that previously worked with the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk to dismantle the agency.
The official also said that many programs were hit by the latest new cuts were given recruitment privileges or had a modification of expenditure for their contract approved by the Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This special permit is seen as an indication that the leadership of the Department of Foreign Affairs views the work as an important thing to fulfill its mission to provide “core saving drugs, medical services, food, residence, and subsistence assistance” in the midst of Trump’s administrative review of all foreign aid expenses.
Bruce added in his press briefing that several awards had been accidentally eliminated but since then they have been restored, even though he refused to give details.
“There are several programs that are cut in other countries that are not intended to be cut, which have been rolled back and enforced,” Bruce said.
State Secretary Marco Rubio viewed when US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not described) at the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, April 7, 2025.
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
Shortly after returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump ordered all freezing on all foreign assistance for 90 days, which led to the busyness of stop-work orders and employing freezing that affected various humanitarian assistance work.
Since then, the Trump government has moved to cancel a grant and a foreign aid contract worth $ 60 billion, but senior officials like Rubio have promised that the most important assistance will continue.
“This is not about eliminating assistance. This is about restructuring how we will do assistance,” Rubio said last month.