The article discusses the impact of a 90-day freeze on US foreign assistance, including aid to Ukraine, which was imposed by Senator Marco Rubio. The freeze affects organizations funded by the State Department and USAID, including those that provide vital services to vulnerable groups such as veterans, journalists, and communities in frontline areas.
The article highlights the consequences of the freeze for these organizations, including loss of funding, potential closure, and impact on staff and clients. For example:
* Makes Sense, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that supports journalists heading to report from the front lines, may lose its funding, threatening its operations.
* A regional office for a State Department-funded organization in Ukraine has lost income from projects funded by USAID, which will affect contractors who are part-time and rely on this work as their main source of income.
* The freeze will have an enormous impact on the work of Makes Sense, potentially threatening a hub it operates in Sloviansk that supports journalists heading to report from the front lines.
The article also mentions hopes raised by senior diplomats requesting a full waiver for operations in Ukraine due to national security concerns. However, this request has not been answered yet, leaving uncertainty and concern about the future of these organizations and their clients.
Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of continued support for these vital organizations during challenging times like the current conflict in Ukraine.