Rubio says State Department will exempt select USAID programs from freeze

[Michie]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the State Department is currently determining which foreign aid programs will be granted exemptions from the Trump administration’s plans to freeze spending at USAID.

Rubio, at a press conference in Guatemala, said the State Department is now working “to identify which programs should be specifically designated and therefore exempted” from President Donald Trump’s funding freeze and stop-work orders.

The secretary of state also said the State Department has reached out to USAID officials to help determine these exemptions.

The Trump administration announced on Monday that all USAID employees would be put on leave and global personnel would be recalled in light of Trump’s executive order, which put a 90-day freeze on most foreign funding last month. The order, which Trump signed directly after his inauguration, gives Rubio the power to “waive the pause for specific programs.”

Continued below.

Rubio says State Department will exempt select USAID programs from freeze

The secretary of state also said the State Department has reached out to USAID officials to help determine these exemptions.

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[Fantine]

Catholic Relief Services lost half their budget. They could start there.
Are we supposed to be grateful?
Mr. Musk, thank you for sparing half the programs for clean water in Africa. I will sleep peacefully knowing only half as many African babies will die of dysentery. SMH.