A recent Executive Order from the Trump Administration mandates a 90-day pause on new US foreign aid to review programmes. The Secretary of State may waive the pause or resume obligations early if reviews are completed.
What this means
- We expect the new administration to review all programs for alignment with its foreign policy within 3-6 months. During this time, it’s likely all projects will undergo evaluation.
- Ongoing projects with disbursed funding have a mandated two-year contractual period, known as “appropriation,” based on Congressional approval. However, this may vary depending on the contract type.
- If you’re a subcontractor, you’ll likely receive a Stop-Work Order from the Prime or Contract Officer. Until then, we recommend continuing activities as planned.
- Projects ending in 3-6 months will likely close out as planned. However, midterm projects spanning 2-3 years are the ones most likely to face disruptions.
- RFP’s or solicitations that are currently being assessed for fund disbursement will be delayed for approval.
- US Foreign Development Assistance Agencies are very quiet now. Recently, USAID staff were instructed to pause all public communications, potentially extending to other agencies. It’s unclear if this includes communications with implementing partners.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need support in assessing project status against this Executive Order. Our USAID Team will review specific contracts and provide detailed next steps.
We understand the uncertainty and anxiety these recent events may bring. Please know that MzN International is here to support you every step of the way. Together, we’ll adapt to these challenges and any future changes. You can count on us to stand by you during these trying times.