Washington, Feb 13 (EFE).- A federal judge temporarily blocked the order of United States President Donald Trump to freeze foreign aid from the United States, channeled mainly through the country’s Agency for International Development, or USAID.
District of Columbia Judge Amir Ali issued an order Thursday in response to a lawsuit filed by two health organizations that receive funds from the US government to finance programs abroad.
The court decision shows the government, for now, cannot suspend or cancel foreign aid that had already been approved before Trump took office.
Following the order, issued by Trump in late January, State Secretary Marco Rubio issued a directive halting all foreign aid, with the exception of for Israel and Egypt, and maintaining only food shipments in extreme emergency situations.
The decision sparked panic among humanitarian organizations around the world that depend on contracts with the US to continue operating.
According to the United Nations, the US is by far the largest supplier of foreign aid, with nearly $72 billion invested during 2023, representing 40 percent of global humanitarian aid.
According to the new US government doctrine, every dollar invested must “make America a safer, stronger and more prosperous country.”
The 90-day pause is, according to the State Department, “the only way to examine and prevent waste.”
In addition, 50 senior USAID officials were suspended due to suspicions that they had resisted obeying orders. EFE
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