Which US Support for Ukraine Is Suspended Under Trump’s Aid Freeze?

US Secretary of State Mark Rubio has frozen nearly all foreign assistance, halting funding programs managed by the Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The freeze, set to last up to 90 days, aims to conduct an audit of expenditures.

Rubio’s statement highlighted certain exceptions: funding for Israel and Egypt will continue. This immediately raised the question—what happens to support for Ukraine? With the country enduring a full-scale invasion and the US as its largest ally, UNITED24 Media investigates the current state of these programs.

What programs does the US have to support Ukraine?

The United States is a significant partner to Ukraine, providing military, financial, and humanitarian aid. Total US assistance has exceeded $106 billion, distributed through several key programs.

• Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA): This program, overseen by the US President—formerly Joe Biden and now Donald Trump—allocated $45.8 billion as of September 30, 2024. These funds supported military aid for Ukraine by transferring weapons from US Department of Defense stockpiles while placing orders for new arms from American manufacturers.

• Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI): Managed by the US Department of Defense, this program facilitates the purchase of weapons from manufacturers or partner nations. Although USAI has a budget exceeding $31 billion, only about $21 billion has been utilized, leaving room for continued operations.

• Foreign Military Financing (FMF): Administered by the US Department of State, FMF provides grants or loans to purchase military equipment. In 2024, $2 billion was allocated and fully utilized within the year.

The above programs are military-focused, designed specifically to ensure the continuous supply of arms to Ukraine.

USAID-led initiatives, on the other hand, primarily focus on humanitarian efforts. These programs support social projects, education, local businesses, and infrastructure restoration, while also channeling funds to support Ukraine’s national budget. In 2024, all budgetary assistance allocated by the US was fully delivered.

Which programs are paused?

As of now, USAID has scaled back its activities. Projects related to infrastructure restoration, education, business support, energy, and healthcare are temporarily frozen. However, programs already funded in 2024 will continue, as their budgets were previously approved.

USAID’s operations are under review for the next 90 days. It’s important to note that USAID does not oversee military aid to Ukraine.

Regarding FMF, all projects approved in 2024 or earlier have been funded. No financing programs for Ukraine have been approved for 2025. However, The Guardian reported that Ukraine was included in a list of countries eligible for FMF support in 2025. The list, initially approved during the Biden administration, includes Ukraine, Vietnam, Georgia, Colombia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ecuador, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Djibouti, Panama, and Jordan.

Exceptions were made for Israel and Egypt, which will continue to receive funding partly due to a ceasefire agreement reached regarding Gaza. Despite Ukraine’s inclusion on the FMF eligibility list, no specific projects have been approved yet.

As of now, Ukraine still has active and operational military support programs from the US. Key aid initiatives remain intact, while the future of USAID and FMF funding hinges on the results of ongoing reviews.