The Trump administration has unblocked $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, mostly for security and counter-narcotics programs. About this informs Reuters.
A total of 243 additional exemptions totaling $5.3 billion are listed. The list provides the most detailed account of unblocked funds since the aid freeze ordered by Trump. This shows the desire of the White House to cut funding for programs that it does not consider critical to US national security.
Most of the freed up funds – more than $4.1 billion – are for programs overseen by the US State Department’s Bureau of Military and Political Affairs, which oversees arms sales and military aid to foreign nations and groups. Other exceptions relate to Trump’s immigration reform and measures to combat drug smuggling, including fentanyl.
More than half of the programs that will receive funding are implemented by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Law Enforcement Assistance (INL). They are aimed at combating illegal drug trafficking and illegal migration.
The total cost of these exemptions is $293 million, which includes funding for databases to track migrants, identify potential terrorists and share biometric information. Reuters was unable to ascertain whether there are additional exceptions not included in the list.
