The Trump administration urged the workers of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to join the attempt to change the effort to allocate assistance worldwide as per Trump’s “US First” policy. This threatened “disciplinary action” for any employee ignoring the administration’s orders.
A rapid word memorandum sent to over 10,000 employees in USAID on Saturday offered for Friday’s “stop-work” instruction and guidance, which effectively put a wide freeze on American foreign aid worldwide. . The memo reviewed by Reuters met the expectations for the workforce about how to achieve the goals of Trump.
“We have the responsibility of supporting the President in achieving his vision,” Kane Jackson, the administrator’s assistant for management and resources, was written in the internal memorandum, titled “Message and expectation to the workforce” . ,
Memo said, “The President has given us a tremendous opportunity to change the way the way of foreign aid for the coming decades.” Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the memorandum with several sources.
Since assuming office last week, Trump has taken steps towards fulfilling his pledge to remake a federal bureaucracy, believing that he was hostile during his 2017-2021 presidential presidency. He has re -assigned or removed hundreds of federal workers in steps against a swath by agencies.
Hours after assuming the post, Trump ordered a 90-day stagnation in foreign aid whether it was aligned with priorities of his foreign policy. On Friday, the State Department also issued a stop-work order worldwide for the current and approved assistance, which was called on the question of billions of dollars of life-saving assistance.
The United States is the largest single donor of assistance globally. In the financial year 2023, it distributed $ 72 billion to aid.
The USAID and the White House National Security Council (NSC) did not immediately respond to the request of the comment on the story.
Friday’s memorandum surprised humanitarian groups and communities operating development assistance worldwide. While the scope of the instructions appears far -reaching, uncertainty pays attention to how it will be done.
On Saturday, the memorandum offered only partial clarity.
A break on foreign aid spending means “a complete stop,” it has been said. The only exceptions are returning to their duty stations for emergency emergency food aid and for government officials. Waves that allow delivery of emergency food during the review period will require “detailed information and justification”.
Memo said that further exemption would require two layers of approval – one by USAID leadership and the other by American Secretary State Marco Rubio.
Memo said, “To demonstrate any exemption, it should be justified that the specific assistance for which the discount is sought is necessary for life -saving objectives, the current can be done by the current American direct rent employees , Or will otherwise pose a significant risk for national security, “the Memo said.
All foreign aid programs will undergo a “comprehensive review” during the stagnation in expenses, calls Memo. “It is important to emphasize that this is not the usual business. Each program will be thoroughly examined.”
Saturday’s instructions banned any communication outside the agency between the USAID and the state department until they are approved by the former front office.
“Failure to follow this instruction, or any of the instructions sent in the beginning of this week and in the coming weeks will take disciplinary action,” said this.
Separately, the USAID sent a notice to the contractors, which “immediately issue stop-work orders” and “modifications, or order to suspend or suspend the existing prizes.”
The human organization and other donors are designed to understand how this instruction will affect life-sax operations in countries around the world. He said to explain whether specific services would have to be stopped or what will be.
In 2024, the US provided 42% of all humanitarian aids tracked by the United Nations.
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