'Preposterous': Trump administration freezes foreign aid, halts $50 million for 'condoms in Gaza' program

As of now, the Trump administration's aid freeze includes all countries except for Israel and Egypt, where crucial military and humanitarian assistance will continue.

The Donald Trump administration has frozen all foreign aid, including millions of dollars allocated for "condoms in Gaza," as part of a broader move to curb federal spending. According to US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the executive order aims to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in alignment with the “priorities of the American people.”

Leavitt stated that an investigation by the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) uncovered that approximately $50 million in aid had been allocated for condom distribution in Gaza, a move she labeled “preposterous.” This decision to freeze aid includes suspending grants, loans, and federal assistance programs, pending a review.

The freeze extends to all foreign aid, including funding for Ukraine, but makes exceptions for Israel and Egypt, where emergency food and military assistance will continue. This decision follows the executive order titled "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid," which was signed last week by President Trump.

The issue arose after reports in 2020 indicated that Hamas had used condoms to create IED-carrying balloons aimed at Israel. These balloons reportedly caused significant damage, including fires and destruction of agricultural land in southern Israel. This led to the Trump administration’s review of the funding, which they deemed a "waste of taxpayer money."

The $50 million allocation for the program was allegedly part of a broader foreign aid initiative under the Biden administration, but no evidence was provided to substantiate the claims made by the current administration. A former senior official from the Biden administration dismissed the accusation, calling it a "feverish dream."

In response to the move, Leavitt emphasised that the aid freeze was not "a blanket pause" but was aimed at aligning federal spending with the priorities of the American people, with a particular focus on re-evaluating the use of foreign aid.

As of now, the Trump administration's aid freeze includes all countries except for Israel and Egypt, where crucial military and humanitarian assistance will continue.