The Trump administration lifted the freeze on federal financial aid, including USAID support for Ukraine.

The Trump administration has lifted the freeze on federal financial assistance, which had led to the suspension of several humanitarian programs, reports CNN.

"The Office of Management and Budget has lifted the freeze on federal aid, according to a memo obtained by CNN from a Trump administration official," CNN's report states on its website.

"The OMB memorandum M-25-13 has been annulled. If you have questions regarding the implementation of the President's orders, please contact your agency's chief legal counsel," the report mentions.

In Ukraine, as in many countries around the world, American assistance was channeled through USAID. The organization, which has been operating in Ukraine since 1992, has provided billions of dollars in aid during this time.

Currently, USAID has confirmed the suspension of funding for all projects in Ukraine without exception.

What risks does the reduction of American assistance pose for Ukraine?

The Veteran Hub - a center for veteran assistance in Vinnytsia, where combatants and their families could receive consultations from lawyers and psychologists - ceased operations on Saturday, January 25. On the same day, the center's staff became unemployed, as the Vinnytsia branch was funded by American aid.

"This was very unexpected... We were counting on this ongoing support. There were no warnings from our donors about a potential freeze in funding," commented Ivona Kostina, co-founder of the Veteran Hub, to the BBC.

"You cannot work with people who have experienced trauma in this way," Kostina says regarding the sudden halt of the project.

According to USAID, since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the US has allocated $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, $5 billion for development, and over $30 billion in direct budget support.

As indicated in the organization's reports, the US has provided $22.9 billion in budget assistance to the Ukrainian government through USAID to support displaced persons and pay the salaries of civil servants working in the provision of critical services.

In 2024, USAID allocated $522 million for the recovery program of infrastructure damaged by shelling in Ukraine and to support the provision of public services to the country's residents.

Now these and other programs and projects funded by USAID are on hold until the position of the new Trump administration on this matter becomes clear.

Background. Today, it was announced that Ukraine has begun consultations regarding replacing the aid from the US.