Following the Trump administration’s decision to suspend foreign aid for 90 days to reassess its effectiveness, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified Washington’s priorities regarding assistance to Africa. In an interview with SiriusXM Patriot on Monday, he noted that certain humanitarian programs, such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which targets HIV/AIDS in Africa, will continue, while others considered ineffective or misaligned with U.S. interests may be cut. This stance has raised concerns among NGOs and recipient nations.
Since returning to the White House, the Trump administration has paused American foreign aid, with exceptions made for military assistance to Israel and Egypt, as well as emergency food aid, prompting varied reactions.
In this context, Rubio emphasized the importance of reviewing public fund allocations. “We are going to eliminate those that do not make sense while maintaining or even expanding those that do,” he stated.
Regarding Africa, he reiterated his support for PEPFAR, describing it as a vital program in the fight against HIV. “I’m a supporter of PEPFAR. I’ve been a member of Congress, and now I’m Secretary of State. It’s a program we aim to continue,” he asserted. However, he also noted that the goal of the program should be to reduce its scope over time as fewer individuals contract HIV or transmit it to their children.
Rubio clarified that some forms of humanitarian aid would remain, especially when they address security concerns. “Issues such as whether famine could destabilize a country and create a situation favorable to radical jihadists or other opportunistic groups are critical. We will continue to respond to those needs,” he added.
He criticized the extensive interpretation of humanitarian aid, suggesting that certain costs should not be borne by American taxpayers. “That doesn’t mean these are bad ideas; they just shouldn’t rely on American taxpayer funding,” he explained, reinforcing the administration’s intent to refocus aid efforts.
“We are not moving away from foreign aid; we are moving away from aid that is wasteful and doesn’t serve U.S. interests,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the suspension of American aid is already affecting the situation in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the U.S. funded around 70 percent of the 2024 humanitarian response plan, emergency health and shelter programs have been halted, impacting thousands of individuals. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has announced the suspension of several humanitarian operations due to the abrupt end of U.S. funding, jeopardizing aid to about 1.6 million people, including those in Burkina Faso and Sudan. Despite Rubio’s assurances, the cessation of foreign aid has led to serious concerns among NGOs and recipient countries, raising fears of dire consequences for vulnerable populations.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA