Skip to main content

2.0

EO 14169 "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid"

  1. Original Date Announced

    January 20, 2025

    Executive Order (EO) 14169, "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid," calls on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to enforce a "90-day pause in United States foreign development assistance for assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy." All department heads responsible for U.S. development programs must immediately pause new obligations and disbursements of funding.

    The Secretary of State may waive the pause in Section 3(a) for specific programs, and foreign development assistance funds may resume for programs prior to the end of the 90-day period if the Secretary and the Director of OMB decide to continue the program once review is complete.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #1500]

    EO 14169 Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid
  2. Effective Date

    January 20, 2025
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • January 24, 2025

      2025.1.24 Rubio memo re Executive Order on Review of Foreign Assistance Programs

      Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memorandum to all diplomatic and consular posts to "pause all new obligations of funding, pending review, for foreign assistance programs funded by or through the [State] Department and USAID." The memorandum also provides the government "shall not provide foreign assistance funded by or through the Department and USAID without the Secretary of State's authorization or the authorization of his designee."

      The memorandum further notes the Secretary has approved waivers with respect to foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt, "emergency food assistance," salaries and administrative expenses for U.S. direct hire employees, "legitimate expenses incurred prior to the date of this [memo] under existing awards or legitimate expenses associated with stop-work orders," and "exceptions to the pause approved by the Director of Foreign Assistance."

      View Document
    • January 28, 2025

      2025.01.28_Emergency Humanitarian Waiver to Foreign Assistance Pause

      Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver under Section (3)(a) of the EO "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid." The waiver allows for life-saving humanitarian assistance to continue during the 90-day review period. This exception is designed to apply to a limited number of programs and is temporary in nature, so no new contracts can be signed.

      The waiver notes that Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) may be used but only "to support activities under section 1(a) [medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance] and for repatriation of third country nationals to their country of origin or safe-third-country.” The limited waiver means MRA funds still cannot be used to help refugees in their country of displacement, including with integration.

      View Document
    • February 1, 2025

      2025.02.01_USAID Website Page (Department of State)

      The previous USAID website is no longer available and instead a "U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)" page has appeared on the U.S. Department of State's website.

      View Document
    • February 1, 2025

      2025.02.01 - The Guardian: USAID website offline, Trump moves to put agency under state department

      The Guardian and other news sources report that the USAID website is now offline and that President Trump plans to put the free-standing agency for global humanitarian operations under DOS control. Current and former USAID officials said this change took place after "a purge of senior staff appeared designed to silence any dissent."

      View Document
    • February 6, 2025

      Complaint, AFSA v. Trump, 1:25-cv-00352 (D.D.C. Feb. 6, 2025)

      The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court challenging the EO identified in this entry. The plaintiffs allege that the EO is unconstitutional, violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and undermines national security interests. They seek declaratory and injunctive relief including the reinstatement of USAID employees who were furloughed or placed on leave and restoration of USAID funding. American Foreign Service Association v. Trump, 1:25-cv-352 (D.D.C.).

      **Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search  Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**

      View Document
    • February 7, 2025

      Order Partially Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for TRO, AFSA v. Trump, 1:25-cv-00352-CJN (D.D.C. Feb. 7, 2025)

      D.C. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols granted in part the plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in American Foreign Service Association v. Trump. Judge Nichols ordered the Trump administration to reinstate all USAID employees placed on administrative leave pursuant to the EO until February 14, 2025, and prohibited the evacuation of USAID employees from host countries before the same date. Judge Nichols denied the plaintiffs' request for a TRO against the USAID funding freeze.

      *See litigation note above*

      View Document
    • February 10, 2025

      AVAC v. Department of State - Complaint

      The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) and the Journalism Development Network (JDN) filed a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court challenging the EO identified in this entry and the subsequent stop work orders issued by DOS and USAID. The plaintiffs allege that the EO is unconstitutional and violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). They seek declaratory and injunctive relief including the reinstatement of foreign assistance funding and awards to continue operating. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. DOS, 1:25-cv-00400 (D.D.C.).

      *See litigation note above*

      View Document
    • February 13, 2025

      2025.2.13 Temporary Restraining Order, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. DOS, 1:25-cv-00400-AHA (D.D.C.)

      U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali issued a temporary restraining order, enjoining DOS, USAID, or OMB from "suspending, pausing, or otherwise preventing the obligation or disbursement of appropriated foreign-assistance funds" in existence before EO 14169, and from implementing stop work orders. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. DOS, 1:25-cv-00400 (D.D.C.).

      *See litigation note above*

      View Document
    • February 19, 2025

      Emergency Motion to Enforce TRO & Hold Defendants in Contempt, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. DOS, 1:25-cv-00400-AHA (D.D.C.)

      On February 19, 2025, the plaintiffs in AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. U.S. Dep't of State filed an emergency motion for contempt seeking to enforce the February 13 TRO against the defendants. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants' purported compliance with the TRO "strains credulity" and that the defendants have continued to suspend funding and enforce stop-work orders. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. DOS, 1:25-cv-00400 (D.D.C.).

      *See litigation note above*

      View Document
    • February 19, 2025

      Complaint, USCCB v. DHS, 1:25-cv-465 (D.D.C. Feb. 18, 2025)

      On February 19, 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court alleging that DHS' Refugee Funding Suspension violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). They seek declaratory and injunctive relief including the reimbursement of USCCB for all expenses it has incurred or will incur pursuant to the terms of its cooperative agreements. USCCB v. DHS, 1:25-cv-465 (D.D.C. Feb. 18, 2025).

      **Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**

      View Document

Current Status

Partially in effect

Original Trump Policy Status

Trump Administration Action: Presidential Orders
Subject Matter: Humanitarian
Agencies Affected: DOS Other

Commentary

  • 2025.01.31 - WOLA: Trumps Pause of US Foreign Assistance to Latin America An America Last Policy

    Go to article
  • "Thousands Adrift at the Border Lose Their US Financial Lifeline," Bloomberg

    Bloomberg article reporting on the impacts of the aid freeze policy identified in this entry on migrants at the border and on Mexican border cities.

    Go to article

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com