Hawzah News Agency- “No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved…as consistent with President Trump’s agenda,” the memo stated, according to Guardian.

This broad directive appears to encompass all types of aid, from development assistance to military support, and potentially, as reported, even Ukraine.

A source familiar with Congressional discussions, speaking to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, said, “Freezing these international investments will lead our international partners to seek other funding partners—likely US competitors and adversaries—to fill this hole and displace the United States’ influence the longer this unlawful impoundment continues.”

The State Department memo instructed senior officials to ensure that “to the maximum extent permitted by law, no new obligations shall be made for foreign assistance” until Rubio completes a review. It also called for immediate stop-work orders on existing projects until further evaluation.

“This is manufactured chaos,” said a former senior official from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Organizations will have to stop all activities, so all lifesaving health services, HIV/Aids, nutrition, maternal and child health, all agriculture work, all support of civil society organizations, education,” he told The Guardian.

A USAID officer confirmed that projects in Ukraine, including school support and emergency health care such as maternal services and vaccinations, have been paused.