Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Cuts to foreign aid continued with the passage of the rescissions package by Congress in July, pulling back the U.S. presence in the international humanitarian arena.
About $7.9 billion in aid funding that was previously approved by Congress has been canceled at the behest of President Donald Trump and the Trump administration. The funding cuts a majority of the federal government's support for international education programs and makes deep cuts to development, refugee programs and health services.
Two of the largest single rescissions in the bill are the $2.5 billion in economic assistance funding and $1.65 billion in bilateral economic assistance funds. It also rescinds an unobligated balance of $500 million from global health programs outlined in the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2025. Another $800 million in unobligated funding is rescinded from the State Department's migration and refugee assistance program.
"These funds save lots and lots of lives," Don Kerwin, vice president of advocacy, research and partnerships for Jesuit Refugee Service, told UPI.
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