Trump suspends US aid to Colombia and other countries: it will be analyzed whether they are “aligned” with the interests of the new government
President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all US foreign assistance programs for 90 days while they are examined to determine whether they are aligned with his political objectives.
So far, it is unclear how much assistance would initially be affected by the order, as funding for many programs has already been allocated by Congress and must be expended, if not already spent.
The order, among many that Trump signed on his first day back in office, notes that “the foreign aid sector and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases are opposed to American values (…) ; “They serve to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations within and between countries.”
As a result, Trump declared: “No more foreign assistance from the United States will be disbursed.” in a way that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the president of the United States.”
The US Congress had approved approximately $380 million in aid for Colombia in 2025, down from $410 million the previous year.
Therefore, following the executive order signed by Trump, the distribution of these funds is currently paused and Its future will depend on the conclusions of the review ordered by the US administration.
This does not imply that support for Colombia will definitively stop, but during this period (90 days) No new disbursements will be made nor will additional projects be approved.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing last week: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified by the response.” to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” asked.
The order signed by Trump leaves Rubio, or someone he appoints, with the task of making such determinations, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget.
The Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development They are the main agencies that oversee foreign assistance.
Trump has long criticized Washington’s foreign aid, despite the fact that such assistance typically represents about 1% of the federal budget, except in unusual circumstances such as the billions of dollars in weapons provided to Ukraine.
Trump has criticized the amount sent to kyiv to help bolster its defenses against the Russian invasion.
The latest official accounting of foreign aid in the Biden administration dates back to mid-December and fiscal year 2023. It shows that $68 billion had been committed to overseas programs, which range from disaster relief to health and pro-democracy initiatives in 204 countries and regions.
*With information from Associated Press.
