The US State Department has frozen new funding for nearly all foreign aid programmes, according to reports.
Friday's move comes days after President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a 90-day pause on foreign assistance.
In an internal cable, the State Department reportedly said it was pausing new funding while it reviewed projects and established a repository of projects to make it easier to assess the successes and necessity of programmes.
The freeze, which extends to USAID, could affect hundreds if not thousands of projects. USAID operates missions in 80 countries and has projects in 100 countries.
According to a cable, seen by the Associated Press, assistance to Israel and Egypt will be exempt from the freeze.
Mr Trump has pledged to make the government more efficient and to reduce unnecessary spending.
A new criterium for foreign aid will be whether or not it aligns with Mr Trump’s America First vision.
“It is the policy of the United States that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States,” the White House said.
Speaking to staffers at the State Department last week, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that there is now a "very clear mission" when it comes to US foreign policy: "to ensure that our foreign policy is centred on one thing, and that is the advancement of our national interest".
The National has reached out to the State Department for comment.
