The Donald Trump administration, representing the world’s largest donor country, has temporarily suspended most of its foreign aid, causing significant disruptions in many countries reliant on U.S. assistance.

Numerous aid organizations worldwide, which have been operating with U.S. funding, are now halting their activities.

According to the Washington Post (WP) and others on the 28th, the U.S. has paused and begun reviewing foreign aid programs totaling over $60 billion (approximately 87 trillion KRW).

Earlier, on the 20th, President Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of funding to evaluate whether foreign aid programs align with U.S. foreign policy. In response, the State Department, the primary agency overseeing aid, froze related expenditures on the 24th.

For the 2023 fiscal year, Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, was the largest aid recipient, receiving approximately $17 billion in support from the U.S.

The Trump administration’s freeze has impacted various programs, including humanitarian aid, energy support, anti-corruption efforts, and veteran assistance.

According to AFP, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a national address on the 28th that the U.S. aid freeze has halted numerous humanitarian projects. He said, “There are many projects. We will determine which are critical and require immediate solutions. We can allocate some of the necessary funds through public finances.”

AP reported that while most military aid to Ukraine, such as weapons provision, is managed by the Department of Defense and remains unaffected, the Trump administration is not pursuing new military assistance either.

Military aid affected by the freeze includes foreign military financing and international military education and training programs overseen by the State Department.

The second-largest recipient of U.S. aid is Israel, which received $3.3 billion in the 2023 fiscal year, combining military, economic, and humanitarian support.

While the Trump administration has suspended aid to most countries, it has made exceptions for military aid to Israel and Egypt. Egypt, the fourth-largest recipient, received $1.5 billion, following Jordan.

WP predicted that Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, and other sub-Saharan African countries would be hit hardest by the U.S. aid freeze.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, has also been included in the State Department’s aid freeze.

By sector, U.S. foreign aid includes
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According to Reuters, the U.S. provided approximately $13.9 billion in humanitarian assistance in 2024, accounting for 42% of global humanitarian aid tracked by the UN.

The World Food Programme (WFP) received $4.7 billion from the U.S. in 2024, making up 54% of its total funding.

Reuters reported that health clinics in Thai refugee camps housing over 100,000 Myanmar refugees have ceased operations due to this measure.

The U.S. has stated that exceptions will be made for emergency food aid.

The Bangladeshi government confirmed that the U.S. has allowed exceptions for food aid to over 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh but has suspended support for refugee housing construction and maintenance.

The U.S. has also halted funding for humanitarian organizations involved in mine clearance in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka.

In 2023, the U.S. provided $310 million for mine clearance, representing 39% of total international support, according to Reuters.

AP noted that over the past decades, U.S. aid policy has been based on the belief that stabilizing unstable regions and economies, improving relations with other countries, and contributing to U.S. security yields benefits exceeding the costs of aid.

However, many Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers argue that foreign aid funds should be spent domestically or saved.

Critics of the aid suspension point out that the U.S. has been supporting Pacific island nations to counter China’s influence, and halting such aid could make it difficult to contain China, AP reported.