It is a common practice of new U.S. presidents to review programs at the beginning of their tenure. But the review process need not include freezing programs for which Congress has already appropriated funding. Recent Trump administration action has led to a funding suspension and "stop-work order" on most U.S. foreign assistance programs. Freezing funds causes major disruptions to services and benefits which many in our communities and around the world depend on, especially those on the margins of society.
A few of the programs that have been impacted by the funding freeze include:
- global health programs such as President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR);
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refugee integration such as the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) which helps recently arrived refugees and persons with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), including Afghans who supported the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan;
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resilience, environment and food security programs including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSN) and the Storm EVent ImagRV dataset (SERVIR) which gives real-time information to governments and aid agencies used to save lives and effectively utilize resources; and
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funding for Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), operated by the Lutheran World Federation in East Jerusalem with funding directed by USAID and approved by Congress to provide lifesaving care, which has been disrupted.
”We affirm that our nation has responsibility to contribute a portion of its wealth to people in poorer nations through effective economic assistance,” reads the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World (p. 16).
Please urge your members of Congress to do everything they can to end the funding freeze on these lifesaving programs. Customize the message with your words and convictions. Thank you for your advocacy.
