Latest U.S. Department of State News
Pauses on US foreign aid and other grants send funders and nonprofits scrambling
NEW YORK (AP) — Freezing foreign aid. Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. Prohibiting nonprofits that receive U.S. foreign aid from providing abortions. Then Monday, the new Trump administration announced a freeze on all federal loans and grants, though that pause has...
US aid freeze leads to suspension of health care to Myanmar refugees in Thailand
BANGKOK (AP) — A 90-day freeze on foreign assistance programs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump has led to cuts in services to refugees from war-torn Myanmar, including the shutdown of hospital care in camps in Thailand where more than 100,000 are living, activists and Thai officials said...
A US shutdown on foreign aid is hitting worldwide. Rubio adds more exemptions
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-funded aid programs around the world were firing staff and shutting down or preparing to stop operations, as the Trump administration's unprecedented freeze on almost all foreign assistance brought their work to a sudden halt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio,...
Antony Blinken has a deal for a book about his years as Joe Biden's secretary of state
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken has a book deal, billed by his publisher as a “rare glimpse” into the “challenging and often controversial” responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war in Gaza and other crises that broke out during his four years at the...
State Department freezes new funding for nearly all US aid programs worldwide
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. The order threatened a quick halt to many of the billions of dollars in...
Federal agencies begin removing DEI guidance from websites in Trump crackdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal agencies have begun removing resources for underrepresented Americans from their webpages following President Donald Trump's executive order cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Agencies also have been cancelling staff trainings...
Trump revokes protections for former Secretary of State Pompeo and top aide threatened by Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has revoked government security protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top aide, Brian Hook, who have faced threats from Iran since they took hard-line stances on the Islamic Republic during Trump's first administration. ...
Rubio will visit Central America, including Panama, on first trip abroad as secretary of state
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first official trip abroad next week to Central America, including a stop in Panama, which President Donald Trump has riled with talk of trying to reclaim the Panama Canal. Rubio, a former Florida senator who is the son...
Trump administration cancels travel for refugees already cleared to come to America
WASHINGTON (AP) — Refugees who had been approved to come to the United States before a deadline next week suspending America’s refugee resettlement program have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration. Thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution and had...
Rubio kicks off Trump foreign policy engagements in meetings with Indo-Pacific 'Quad'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Tuesday with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan as the Trump administration kicked off its formal foreign policy engagements in discussions with the Indo- Pacific “Quad.” The ministers reaffirmed their countries' commitment to...
