USAID halts all projects in Ukraine, according to Reuters.

The independent agency of the U.S. federal government (USAID) has ordered the cessation of all project work in Ukraine, reports Reuters.

The agency quotes an anonymous USAID employee stating that “staff responsible for projects in Ukraine have been instructed to halt all work. Among the frozen projects are support for schools and medical assistance, including emergency aid for mothers and child vaccinations.”

On January 24, the U.S. Department of State issued an order declaring that all new and existing U.S. foreign aid activities are to be “suspended.” The relevant telegram, which was obtained by Reuters, was distributed by the department following President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order on January 20 to reassess U.S. foreign policy, one aspect of which includes a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid programs.

The newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is expected to make decisions regarding the suspended programs within the next 85 days, while he may approve exceptions in the meantime, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, “Voice of America,” citing sources at the Pentagon, reports that this order does not apply to military support for Ukraine: “Security assistance to Ukraine is not subject to the restrictions of the recent foreign aid order, as it pertains only to development programs, not military support.”

The independent agency of the U.S. federal government (United States Agency for International Development, USAID) is responsible for non-military assistance from the U.S. to other countries. Most American aid to Ukraine flows through this agency, including the $3.4 billion in direct budget support allocated on December 30, 2024. The agency has been operating in Ukraine since 1992 and implements approximately 40 development programs and projects across five areas. These include “Competitiveness of Ukraine’s Economy,” AGRO, “Investments for Business Resilience,” “Safe, Accessible, Effective Medicines for Ukrainians,” “Building a Resilient Public Health System,” and “Rehabilitation for Ukraine.”

Background. As reported by Mind, the newly appointed administration of the U.S. President also suspended the acceptance of applications for participation in temporary entry programs to the U.S., including “Uniting for Ukraine.”