White House defends sweeping foreign aid freeze

President Donald Trump has frozen a $50 million foreign aid package that was allegedly earmarked for condom distribution in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday. The move is part of a broader freeze on U.S. overseas assistance, implemented just days after Trump returned to office.

Leavitt claimed that the funding was uncovered by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

“About 50 million taxpayer dollars were about to go out the door to fund condoms in Gaza,” Leavitt said during her first press briefing. “That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money.”

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She did not provide further details, and the claim has not been independently verified.

A broader freeze on foreign aid

Trump’s decision to halt funding for Gaza is part of a wider 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid, which he announced shortly after taking office. His administration is conducting a review to ensure that all international assistance aligns with his policy priorities, which include opposing abortion rights, transgender policies, and diversity programs.

Leavitt also revealed that the administration blocked a $37 million payment to the World Health Organization (WHO), following Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would withdraw from the UN health agency.

Reaction and implications

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the scope of the aid freeze in a memo issued last Friday, confirming that nearly all U.S. foreign aid disbursements were being halted—except for emergency food relief and military assistance to key allies, such as Egypt and Israel.

The United Nations has expressed concern over the freeze, with Secretary-General António Guterres warning that it could disrupt critical humanitarian programs. The United States has long been the world’s largest provider of development assistance in absolute dollar terms, and Trump’s latest decision is expected to have significant international repercussions.

As the 90-day review unfolds, questions remain about the future of U.S. foreign aid under Trump’s administration and the long-term impact of his latest policy shift.