The Trump administration has released $5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, primarily allocated for security and counternarcotics programs. According to a list of exemptions reviewed by Reuters, only a limited portion of the funds has been directed toward humanitarian relief.

Among the released funds is $397 million designated for a U.S.-backed initiative in Pakistan. A congressional aide confirmed that this funding is meant to oversee Pakistan’s use of American-made F-16 fighter jets, ensuring they are deployed exclusively for counterterrorism operations rather than against neighbouring India.

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, responsible for preventing the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, received 17 exemptions amounting to more than $30.4 million. These exemptions reflect the administration’s prioritisation of national security concerns over broader humanitarian efforts.

Shortly after assuming office on January 20, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid, suspending funding for various programs, including those combating starvation, deadly diseases, and displacement crises worldwide. The decision prompted U.S. officials and humanitarian organisations to seek exemptions to keep critical programs operational.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aligning with Trump’s “America First” policy, granted waivers in late January for military aid to Israel and Egypt—two of Washington’s key allies in the Middle East—as well as for essential humanitarian assistance such as food supplies. These waivers allowed specific funds to be disbursed despite the broader freeze.

However, both current and former U.S. officials, along with aid organisations, have indicated that only a small number of humanitarian exemptions have been approved. Reuters obtained a list of 243 exemptions authorised as of February 13, totalling $5.3 billion. This list offers the most detailed breakdown of funds released since the aid freeze was enacted and underscores the administration’s strategic decision to limit support for programs deemed non-essential to U.S. national security interests.

The document further reveals that more than $4.1 billion of the released aid falls under the purview of the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. This bureau oversees arms sales and military assistance to foreign nations and other allied groups, reinforcing the administration’s focus on military and security-related priorities over broader foreign aid initiatives.

The release of funds for monitoring Pakistan’s F-16 program highlights the administration’s continued scrutiny of Islamabad’s military operations amid longstanding regional tensions. While aid restrictions remain in place for many humanitarian programs, the prioritisation of military oversight underscores Washington’s strategic approach to foreign assistance under the Trump administration.