“No new funds shall be obligated for brand new awards or extensions of current awards till every proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and accredited,” says the memo to employees.

It provides that US officers “shall instantly situation stop-work orders, according to the phrases of the related award, till such time because the secretary shall decide, following a assessment.”

It additionally orders a large scale assessment of all overseas help to be accomplished inside 85 days to make sure the help adheres to President Trump’s overseas coverage targets.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio – the US’s prime diplomat – has beforehand said that each one US spending overseas ought to happen provided that it makes America “stronger”, “safer” or “extra affluent”.

One former senior State Division official informed the BBC the discover meant a “probably big” influence on overseas support programmes funded by the US.

“One can think about, for instance, the humanitarian de-mining programmes around the globe out of the blue being informed cease work. That is a reasonably large deal,” stated Josh Paul, who oversaw Congressional relations on weapons transfers on the State Division till late 2023.

Dave Harden, a former US Company of Worldwide Assist (USAID) mission director within the Center East, informed the BBC the transfer was “very important”, saying it may see humanitarian and improvement programmes funded by the US around the globe being instantly suspended, whereas the assessment is carried out.

He stated it may have an effect on a variety of important improvement initiatives together with water, sanitation and shelter.

“The staff of the implementing accomplice or the [non-governmental organisation] would have the ability to be paid, however precise help, I feel, must be halted,” stated Mr Harden.

“I’ve gone by means of [assistance suspensions] many occasions once I was the West Financial institution and Gaza mission director, however that was particular to that account. That is international… it is extraordinarily broad,” he stated.

“Not solely does it pause help, but it surely places a ‘cease work’ order in current contracts which can be already funded and underway. It is extraordinarily broad,” he added.

The AFP information company reported the funding freeze may additionally probably have an effect on Ukraine, which acquired billions of {dollars} in weapons beneath Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden.

Rubio’s memo, justifying the freeze, stated it was unimaginable for the brand new administration to evaluate whether or not current overseas support commitments “usually are not duplicated, are efficient and are according to President Trump’s overseas coverage”.

Rubio has issued a waiver for emergency meals help, in keeping with the memo.

This comes amid a surge of humanitarian support into the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas started, and a number of other different starvation crises around the globe, together with Sudan.

The memo additionally stated waivers have up to now been accredited by Rubio for “overseas army financing for Israel and Egypt and administrative bills, together with salaries, essential to administer overseas army financing”.

The State Division has been approached for remark.