U.S. Approves Emergency Waiver for Humanitarian Aid Amid Foreign Aid Pause WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. government has granted an emergency waiver to allow life-saving humanitarian aid, according to a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This decision follows a 90-day freeze on foreign aid imposed by the Trump administration as part of a broader effort to reassess and realign spending priorities.

The waiver, issued on January 28, 2025, permits assistance for urgent needs such as medicine, medical care, food, shelter, and basic survival support. However, funding remains restricted for programs involving abortion, family planning, gender and diversity initiatives, and other activities considered non-essential. Additionally, funds from the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) program will be limited to repatriation efforts. Secretary Rubio emphasized that the temporary pause is in line with an Executive Order aimed at ensuring U.S. foreign aid aligns with the country's national interests.

The State Department stated that this review has already resulted in substantial cost savings by halting expenditures on projects it described as “woke programs”, including contraceptive distribution in Gaza, climate justice efforts in Gabon, and global gender development initiatives. The department reports that in just a few days, agencies submitted billions of dollars in waiver requests, many of which are still under review. So far, the government claims to have blocked over $1 billion in spending on initiatives deemed unnecessary for U.S. security and prosperity. Waiver requests for non-humanitarian aid are being evaluated individually, with priority given to national security and repatriation-related efforts. The U.S.

government asserts that this process improves transparency and accountability in foreign aid, ensuring that only essential and security-focused programs receive funding.