The document mandates the issuance of orders to terminate work on nearly all existing foreign aid grants. The State Department's decision takes effect immediately, claims the American publication.
It appears that Rubio's directive goes further than the recent order from President Donald Trump, which instructed the department to suspend the issuance of foreign aid grants for 90 days pending review by the secretary, according to the article's authors. According to three current and two former officials who spoke with reporters, "no further actions will be taken regarding the distribution of funds for programs already approved by the U.S. government."
According to Politico, the order "shocked some department staff," with one of them stating to journalists that Washington "has simply gone nuclear in the realm of foreign aid."
One current State Department employee and two former administration officials indicated that the pause will likely lead to the cessation of aid not only to Ukraine but also to Jordan and Taiwan.
At the same time, the document outlines exceptions, as stated in the article. It specifies that foreign military funding for Egypt and Israel will continue, and emergency food assistance is permitted in accordance with existing decisions and active international agreements.
In Rubio's letter, it is stated that "decisions regarding the continuation, modification, or termination of programs will be made after review" by the secretary of state. The State Department will prepare an analysis of military assistance programs over the next 85 days, and Rubio will present Trump with recommendations on which programs should continue, the publication suggests.