Emergency Humanitarian Waiver Allows Resumption of Life-Saving Aid Amid Foreign Assistance Pause

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued an emergency humanitarian waiver to allow for the continuation or resumption of life-saving humanitarian assistance programs during the current review of United States foreign aid.
The waiver, approved in response to the President’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, grants temporary permission for existing programs that provide core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance to continue their work. This waiver is limited to activities that directly contribute to saving lives and does not extend to programs related to abortions, family planning, or gender ideology.
Implementers of humanitarian assistance programs are urged to adhere to the specific guidelines outlined in the waiver and work closely with their U.S. government agency partners to ensure compliance. Requests for additional waivers or exceptions for humanitarian assistance not covered by this waiver can be made through the Director of Foreign Assistance at the Department of State.
This decision comes at a critical time when many vulnerable populations around the world rely on U.S. assistance for their survival. The resumption of life-saving aid is a crucial step in ensuring that those most in need receive the support they require during this period of review and realignment of foreign aid policies.