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A top official at the United Nations has raised concerns over President Trump’s decision to pause US foreign assistance.

Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly after the Senate confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he announced a 90-day pause on all new foreign aid grants and obligations, aligning with an executive order signed by President Trump to reevaluate US foreign assistance programs. The directive halted funding through the State Department & USAID. Rubio’s move notably did not pause US military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other nations, focusing more on humanitarian aid.

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What’s going on now: While speaking to reporters, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, expressed concern over the United States’ decision to halt foreign assistance under President Trump’s “America First policy. In a statement, Dujarric said that Guterres “notes with concern the announcement of a pause in US foreign assistance and stressed the critical importance of aid in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities worldwide. “He calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, Dujarric said.  

GUETTERES

The concerns from the UN were echoed by Democratic lawmakers over the weekend, with Representatives Gregory Meeks and Lois Frankel criticizing the freeze on US foreign assistance and warning of the consequences it will cause for both American interests and global stability. In a letter directed to Secretary Rubio, the lawmakers stressed that foreign aid is not merely a “handout” but a “strategic investment” that directly serves US national interests and strengthens global leadership. “It directly serves our national interests and demonstrates our credibility to allies, partners, and vulnerable people who rely on American assistance for survival,” the lawmakers wrote. They argued that the aid pause places lives “at risk” and undermines America’s ability to respond to critical international challenges.

This comes as USAID, which is tasked with managing US foreign assistance programs and addressing global humanitarian crises, has faced both support and criticism for decades. Supporters of USAID stress its critical role in providing life-saving aid, from combating famine in places like Sudan to supporting refugees in Africa and Asia and funding global health initiatives like HIV/AIDS treatment through PEPFAR. However, critics have questioned the efficiency and oversight of some aid programs, arguing that funds are sometimes mismanaged or fail to produce tangible benefits for American interests.

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