State Department issues sweeping pause on foreign aid spending
The State Department has issued guidance effectively freezing most existing foreign aid grants and pausing new funding, according to a cable reviewed by ABC News.
The memo instructs officials overseeing projects funded by grants and awards that have already been distributed to issue immediate "stop-work orders" until the secretary of state can review the program to determine whether to continue, modify or halt the program. The decisions are due in the next 85 days.
But there are some carveouts.
According to the cable, foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt are exempt, as well as funding for emergency food programs. The new policy also allows for the director of foreign assistance to make other exceptions as deemed necessary.
There also appear to be some notable omissions, including support for Jordan, Taiwan and Ukraine.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston