Two former Biden administrative and one current state department who sought anonymity have today accused Trump’s directive of pausing wasteful foreign aid, brought entirely by the Obama and Biden administrations to be targeting US key allies such as Ukraine, Jordan and Taiwan.
Speaking during a visit by the secretary of states Marco Rubio, the officials noted that this move could however open the government to lawsuits over unfulfilled contracts despite at points stating the decisions need to be “consistent with the terms of the relevant award.”
One state department official stated, “state just totally went nuclear on foreign assistance.” a testament that majority had not believe the directive was going to take effect soon. While the guidance from Rubio calls for the immediate effect application Trump’s directive, what happens to the foreign military financing for Egypt and Israel? How about the “legitimate expenses incurred prior to the date of this” guidance “under existing awards?”
Rubio who had visited to actualize the pausing of all existing foreign aid grants for 90 days as directed by President Donald Trump upon his swearing in, gave a guidance, directing all diplomatic and consular posts to issue a “stop-work order” on all existing foreign assistance awards. The directive according to Secretary of States should be executed with immediate effect.
The directive order comes as a shock to many state department officials due to its nature of denying funding for military aid to Ukraine. While president Trump issued the directive for 90 days pending a review, Rubio’s guidance tends to raise a series of questions among US citizens as majority feel the order was not clear whether Ukraine and other nations that benefit from this appropriated funding would get affected.
Despite many foreign nations benefiting from the aid being affected, with multiple operations hanging on a balance, its clear from Rubio’s guidance that no intervention can spear-heard the disburse of the funding. Rubio reiterated that even previously approved aid by the US government according to three current and two former officials familiar with the new guidance will have to wait until the 90-day investigation is completed.
Rubio’s guidance however states that “decisions whether to continue, modify or terminate programs will be made following the review”. Pausing of funding to Ukraine seems to trouble many American officials who want to help it defeat Russia.
Ukraine government is yet to respond to the pause. “We’re working to understand what this means for Ukraine. We’re confident that the administration isn’t going to let America fall for Putin’s scare tactics,” said Mykola Murskyj of Razom, a U.S.-based group that advocates for Ukraine.
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