The Trump administration has issued a strong directive urging employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to align their efforts with the administration’s “America First” foreign policy agenda. In a move described as transformative by the administration, workers were warned of potential “disciplinary action” if they fail to comply with the new orders.
This development follows a sweeping directive issued on Friday, effectively freezing U.S. foreign aid programs worldwide. A sharply worded memo, sent to over 10,000 USAID staff on Saturday, offered additional instructions on how to execute the administration’s vision. The internal document, titled “Message and Expectation to the Workforce,” was authored by Ken Jackson, the assistant to the administrator for management and resources.
The memo, reviewed and verified by Reuters through multiple sources, emphasized the administration’s commitment to overhauling how foreign assistance is allocated. Jackson wrote, “We have a responsibility to support the President in achieving his vision. The President has given us a tremendous opportunity to transform the way we approach foreign assistance for decades to come.”
Since returning to office, Trump has moved swiftly to reshape the federal bureaucracy, including USAID, which plays a critical role in distributing aid globally. These changes come amid allegations from Trump that certain government agencies were adversarial during his earlier presidency from 2017 to 2021. Over the past week, he has reassigned or terminated hundreds of federal employees across various departments.
One of Trump’s initial actions after taking office last week was to order a 90-day review of all foreign aid programs. This review aims to determine whether existing and planned assistance aligns with the administration’s foreign policy objectives. On Friday, the State Department issued a global “stop-work” order, effectively halting foreign aid, even for programs that had already been funded. The pause affects billions of dollars in aid, including life-saving assistance for vulnerable populations worldwide.
The United States remains the largest single donor of humanitarian aid globally. In the 2023 fiscal year alone, it provided $72 billion in foreign assistance. However, the administration’s abrupt decision has left humanitarian organizations and communities reliant on U.S. aid scrambling to assess the potential impact on critical programs. The directive has particularly shocked those engaged in development and humanitarian efforts across the globe.
The Saturday memo underscored the broad scope of the freeze, stating that the suspension of foreign aid would be “a complete halt.” Limited exceptions were noted, including emergency food assistance and the return of U.S. government officials to their duty stations. For emergency food waivers to be granted during the review period, detailed justifications and comprehensive information must be submitted.
Additionally, the memo stated that any other exceptions to the aid freeze would require a rigorous two-tiered approval process. First, USAID leadership must approve the waiver, followed by the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. The memo clarified, “Any waiver must be thoroughly justified to demonstrate that the specific assistance for which the waiver is sought is necessary for life-saving purposes, cannot be performed by current U.S. direct-hire staff, or would otherwise pose significant risks to national security.”
The directive further announced that all foreign assistance programs would undergo a “comprehensive review” during the pause in spending. The memo emphasized that this marks a significant departure from the past, stating, “It is important to emphasize that it is no longer business as usual. Every program will be thoroughly scrutinized.”
In addition to halting aid programs, the directive banned external communications unless explicitly approved by the USAID front office. This includes communications between USAID and the State Department. The memo issued a strict warning: “Failure to abide by this directive, or any of the directives sent out earlier this week and in the coming weeks, will result in disciplinary action.”
Separately, USAID notified its contractors to “immediately issue stop-work orders” and to “amend or suspend existing awards.” This sudden suspension has created significant uncertainty for humanitarian organizations and other stakeholders who rely on U.S. funding to sustain critical operations in various countries.
Experts and aid groups are scrambling to evaluate the consequences of this directive on life-saving programs around the world. However, the full impact remains unclear, as it is still too early to determine which specific services or operations will be affected. In 2024, the United States accounted for 42% of all humanitarian assistance tracked by the United Nations, making its actions pivotal to the global aid landscape.
As this situation unfolds, humanitarian organizations are calling for clarity and urging the administration to consider the profound implications of the aid freeze on vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has maintained its stance, emphasizing its commitment to realigning foreign aid with the broader “America First” agenda.
