Janice R. Andrews
The U.S. government has issued a waiver allowing critical humanitarian aid to continue, despite President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending foreign assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, offering relief to aid organizations facing funding uncertainty.
Rubio’s Statement on the Aid Waiver
In a directive released on Wednesday, Rubio outlined that the waiver allows essential humanitarian aid, including:
- Lifesaving medicine and medical services
- Food and shelter
- Subsistence assistance
- Supplies and necessary administrative costs for aid delivery
However, he specified that certain programs remain excluded.
“This waiver does not extend to activities involving abortions, family planning, conferences, unrelated administrative costs, gender or DEI-related programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-essential aid,” Rubio stated.
Additionally, the memo mandates that Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) funds be used strictly for humanitarian efforts and repatriation. “MRA may only support activities under section 1(a) and assist in repatriating third-country nationals to their country of origin or a safe third-country,” he added.
Aid Organizations Struggled Amid Trump’s Suspension
The waiver follows weeks of confusion and operational challenges for humanitarian groups after Trump froze approximately $60 billion in foreign aid. The sudden halt forced several organizations to suspend their relief efforts due to financial constraints.
With the waiver now in effect, some organizations can restart their activities. “Organizations implementing existing life-saving humanitarian aid programs should resume their work if they have paused, following the outlined guidelines,” Rubio clarified.
Future of U.S. Foreign Aid Remains Unclear
Despite the temporary reprieve, the long-term outlook for U.S. foreign aid remains uncertain. Rubio stressed that no new aid contracts would be approved without additional waivers, keeping aid organizations in a precarious position.
“This waiver is temporary, and unless separately approved, no new contracts will be authorized,” Rubio stated.
While the waiver offers immediate relief, humanitarian groups must navigate ongoing bureaucratic hurdles to sustain their missions. Many remain concerned about the future stability of funding as the Trump administration continues its review of foreign assistance programs.
This decision marks a shift in the administration’s foreign aid stance, but organizations remain cautious about possible future restrictions. The coming months will determine whether more waivers will be granted or if further aid limitations will be imposed.
