Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Monday that will halt all new foreign aid unless it fits with U.S. strategic objectives, two new senior White House officials said.
The aim is to prevent US taxpayers' money from falling into the hands of groups that oppose the US or, for example, promote 'diversity, equality and inclusion' agendas.
And it will likely immediately prevent any new U.S. money from going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
It is the organization that distributes aid in Gaza, but is repeatedly accused of close ties to the terrorist group Hamas. The UN admitted that nine of its employees may have been involved in the October 7 attack on Israel.
“The United States and American citizens are among the most generous people in the world,” a new White House policy adviser told DailyMail.com.
“But at this point we have to understand that foreign policy is domestic policy, and if it doesn't align with our interests, then Uncle Sam should stop opening his wallet.”
The executive order is one of the first signed by Trump after he is sworn in for a second term.
It signals his desire to align foreign aid spending with his America First policy agenda and synchronize it with the work of the State Department.
Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Monday that will halt all new foreign aid unless it fits with U.S. strategic objectives, two new senior White House officials said
It will likely choke off funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which has been repeatedly accused of working against Israel.
But it will send shockwaves around the world and among aid agencies that rely on the US as the world's biggest donor, which spends as much as $76 billion a year.
Trump cut aid spending during his first term and raised concerns again earlier this year.
“WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE MONEY AGAIN WITHOUT THE HOPE OF A REFUND, OR WITHOUT ANY ASSOCIATED IT,” he posted in all caps on his Truth Social platform, just as the Senate prepared to vote on a massive relief bill in February .
'THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD STOP BEING “STUPID”!'
Republicans have regularly raised red flags about American aid.
Republican lawmakers in 2023 questioned why USAID, the largest U.S. foreign aid agency, had given $110,000 to Helping Hand for Relief and Development despite what they said were well-documented ties to “designated terrorist organizations, terrorist financiers and extremist groups.”
The Pakistani group is accused of links to the sectarian terror group. Lashkar-e-Taiba.
More recently, a US government watchdog found that aid sent to Afghanistan had ended up in the hands of the country's Taliban rulers.
American taxpayers' money has ended up in the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported that more than $10 million in U.S. taxpayer money had been paid to the extremist group that fought U.S. forces for two decades.
Trump flagged the money during his speech Sunday night.
'Do you know that we pay billions of dollars a year… to Afghanistan? Do you know?' he asked, referring to nearly $3 billion spent to alleviate a humanitarian crisis since the departure of U.S. troops.
He suggested sending the money only if Afghanistan returned the US military equipment left behind.
The executive order will subject all new aid payments to review by the Secretary of State.
The incoming White House policy adviser said it was a matter of “recalibrating and reevaluating” U.S. foreign assistance.
“Anyone who has eyes and has been paying attention knows that America's foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests,” they said.
'In many cases it is contrary to our values. It often destabilizes world peace by promoting ideas abroad that are the direct opposite of harmonious and stable relations, both within and between countries.
Trump laid out his thoughts on foreign aid last year as the Senate considered a massive spending package, including money for Ukraine
Trump will be sworn in on Monday. He is seen here during his inauguration in 2017
Washington has erected miles of fences and barricades for the inauguration
“So now the policy with the United States is to no longer provide aid that is not fully in line with the president's foreign policy.
“And in addition, all foreign assistance will be immediately reviewed, and no new funds will be distributed unless” approved by the Secretary of State, or by someone he designates.
Trump plans a busy first week with a slew of executive orders.
They are expected to include directives to remove unruly employees, keep TikTok running, halt spending on Joe Biden's green energy projects, declare a state of emergency at the border, end the 'catch and release' policy and designating Mexican drug cartels as 'foreign terrorist organizations'.
