Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, has expanded exemptions in a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance. The review period will include funding for humanitarian items such as shelter and medicine. President Donald Trump has ordered a 90-day pause to review US assistance, which is the world's largest donor by dollar terms. Upon returning to office last week, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause to review assistance. Rubio followed up by freezing virtually all funding though he specified exemptions for emergency food as well as military aid to Israel and Egypt. In a follow-up memo on Tuesday after an outcry from aid groups, Rubio clarified that other "humanitarian assistance" besides food would also be exempt during the review period. Humanitarian assistance was defined as "core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance," he wrote in the memo, the contents of which were confirmed to AFP. Tammy Bruce, State Department spokesman wrote on X that urgent needs are being met. "Blanket waivers are in place for emergency food and other emergency humanitarian assistance. And a waiver process exists for items not covered by pre-existing waivers." She added that the goal was to get rid of "egregious" funding and programs not in line with Trump administration priorities. She pointed, in part, to efforts related to assistance on climate change and gender. The mandate from the American people was clear we must refocus on American national interests, she said. Aid groups and Democratic lawmakers have voiced alarm over potentially far-reaching consequences of the freeze. The latest waiver would appear to give the go-ahead for funding for medication under Pepfar, a major US program against HIV/AIDS. Established in 2003 under former President George W. Bush, Pepfar is credited with saving some 26 million lives. Speaking before the latest waiver, ONE, the aid advocacy group co-founded by Irish singer Bono voiced hope for exemptions but warned that "bureaucratic red tape" could still impact Pepfar funding. Our adversaries will capitalize on this gap in US leadership and promote disinformation, which will undermine trust in the US and damage our reputation around the world, said Elizabeth Hoffman, North America executive director at ONE.

Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, has expanded exemptions in a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance. The review period will include funding for humanitarian items such as shelter and medicine. President Donald Trump has ordered a 90-day pause to review US assistance, which is the world's largest donor by dollar terms. Upon returning to office last week, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause to review assistance. Rubio followed up by freezing virtually all funding though he specified exemptions for emergency food as well as military aid to Israel and Egypt. In a follow-up memo on Tuesday after an outcry from aid groups, Rubio clarified that other "humanitarian assistance" besides food would also be exempt during the review period. Humanitarian assistance was defined as "core lifesaving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance," he wrote in the memo, the contents of which were confirmed to AFP. Tammy Bruce, State Department spokesman wrote on X that urgent needs are being met. "Blanket waivers are in place for emergency food and other emergency humanitarian assistance. And a waiver process exists for items not covered by pre-existing waivers." She added that the goal was to get rid of "egregious" funding and programs not in line with Trump administration priorities. She pointed, in part, to efforts related to assistance on climate change and gender. The mandate from the American people was clear we must refocus on American national interests, she said. Aid groups and Democratic lawmakers have voiced alarm over potentially far-reaching consequences of the freeze. The latest waiver would appear to give the go-ahead for funding for medication under Pepfar, a major US program against HIV/AIDS. Established in 2003 under former President George W. Bush, Pepfar is credited with saving some 26 million lives. Speaking before the latest waiver, ONE, the aid advocacy group co-founded by Irish singer Bono voiced hope for exemptions but warned that "bureaucratic red tape" could still impact Pepfar funding. Our adversaries will capitalize on this gap in US leadership and promote disinformation, which will undermine trust in the US and damage our reputation around the world, said Elizabeth Hoffman, North America executive director at ONE.