Lifesaving Aid on Hold Amid New U.S. Directives

A recent directive has disrupted commitments to humanitarian aid globally, creating challenges for US officials and aid workers.

When Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously indicated that humanitarian aid would continue unimpeded, relief organizations were cautiously optimistic. However, a new directive has led to a suspension of promised exemptions for critical aid efforts. As of this week, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) personnel received communication instructing them to halt further approvals for lifesaving programs, introducing uncertainty in already strained humanitarian efforts.

Internal communications reveal both the Bureau of Global Health and the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs have been directed to pause aid initiatives pending new guidance. This abrupt shift has jeopardized essential services, including access to core lifesaving medicines and food assistance, essential for organizations that have relied on USAID’s support.

Currently, while some waivers allow retention of funding for certain programs stipulated by Rubio’s earlier commitments, the USAID's financial assistance platform, Phoenix, has been offline for weeks, complicating payment processing for even those programs cleared for aid. Consequently, many organizations working with vulnerable populations report significant operational disruptions.

Amid these developments, billionaire and tech magnate Elon Musk, who has been tasked with addressing USAID's operational challenges, stated in a recent briefing that the government has "activated" funding for Ebola and H.I.V. prevention programs. Despite his claims, reports from USAID staff and aid groups indicate that much of this funding remains effectively frozen, underscoring discrepancies between rhetoric and reality within the administration.