Foreign-aid freeze waiver excludes "gender ideology programs" and "transgender surgeries" from life-saving assistance
- Date
- Actor
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Department of State
- Agency
- Department of State (DOS)
- Type
- Guidance/memo (funding condition)
Summary
During the January 20, 2025 blanket freeze of U.S. foreign assistance, Secretary Rubio issued a waiver (January 28, 2025) allowing PEPFAR and other "life-saving humanitarian assistance" to resume — but expressly excluding "gender or DEI ideology programs, transgender surgeries, or other non-life saving assistance." The carve-out ended U.S. funding for transgender-specific health services within PEPFAR-supported programs; PEPFAR-funded programs serving transgender clients in Africa began closing within days. (See also section 8.)
Status
Waiver framework superseded by permanent restructuring of foreign aid under the State Department; transgender-specific programming was not restored, and key-population prevention services were further cut in 2025 (see 2025-08 PEPFAR item).
As recorded in the data of . Check the sources for anything newer.
Related litigation
-
Challenged in
CourtListener docket 71063107
Sources
- williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/foreign-aid-eo-impact(opens another site)
- washingtonblade.com/2025/01/29/pepfar-other-life-saving-humanitarian-programs-c…(opens another site)
- washingtonblade.com/2025/02/05/suspension-of-us-aid-forces-pepfar-funded-progra…(opens another site)
Cite this action
Memorandum from U.S. Dep't of State to All implementing U.S. government agencies, partners, & NGOs, Emergency Humanitarian Waiver to Foreign Assistance Pause (Jan. 28, 2025), https://www.state.gov/emergency-humanitarian-waiver-to-foreign-assistance-pause.
Short form: Memorandum from U.S. Dep't of State to All implementing U.S. government agencies, partners, & NGOs, Emergency Humanitarian Waiver to Foreign Assistance Pause (Jan. 28, 2025), https://www.state.gov/emergency-humanitarian-waiver-to-foreign-assistance-pause.