On January 24, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing nearly all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days. The stated purpose of the order is to assess the effectiveness of these programs and ensure their alignment with U.S. foreign policy. However, this sweeping decision has already had significant consequences, particularly in Armenia and for forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh.
The freeze follows a directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who informed U.S. embassies worldwide that no foreign aid should be disbursed unless it fully aligns with the president’s foreign policy. Trump’s executive order claims that current aid programs are “not aligned with American interests” and, in some cases, even “antithetical to American values.” It further argues that such programs can “destabilize world peace” by promoting ideas that challenge stable relations within and between nations.
One of the affected programs is a five-year, $15 million initiative launched by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2023 to promote media development in Armenia. Many media outlets and NGOs engaged in educational and media development projects rely on U.S. funding. Though the freeze is officially temporary, it has already disrupted existing projects and jeopardized the ability of these organizations to continue operating.
With more than 25 ongoing USAID activities now on hold, Armenia’s partnership with the U.S. in its path toward self-reliance and Euro-Atlantic integration is at risk. The freeze also threatens Armenia’s efforts to strengthen resilience against malign influence in the region.
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Beyond Armenia, Trump’s decision has sparked legal and political debates within the United States. Two dozen prosecutors are challenging the executive order, and a federal judge has already temporarily blocked a similar attempt to freeze domestic grant programs. In response to growing concerns, the State Department recently issued a waiver to allow the continuation of foreign aid providing “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” though the full scope of these exemptions remains unclear.
As the 90-day review period unfolds, uncertainty continues to ripple across the globe. For now, U.S. foreign aid programs, including those crucial to Armenia, remain in limbo, leaving many to question the long-term implications of this unprecedented freeze.
Armenian Council of America