Following Donald Trump’s assumption of the U.S. presidency, the State Department suspended aid programs in multiple countries and halted approvals for new assistance. However, various Indian news outlets and social media posts have framed the situation as if the suspension applies exclusively to Bangladesh.

FactWatch's investigation reveals that the State Department’s decision applies to nearly all nations receiving U.S. aid, including India. According to Indian media reports, some of the country’s development projects may also be affected by the suspension. Further inquiry confirms that the U.S. aid suspension does not extend to emergency food assistance or military funds allocated to Israel and Egypt.

A keyword search on the BBC News website yielded a report confirming that the State Department has halted all foreign aid programs and frozen new approvals, as indicated by leaked internal documents. This directive has been communicated to U.S. officials and foreign embassies. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last Monday, which subsequently brought the aid suspension into focus. The leaked document specifies that all U.S. foreign aid programs will be temporarily suspended for 90 days, with exceptions granted only for emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt.

CNN corroborates these findings. A report published on Saturday, January 25, states that the leaked documents confirm exemptions only for emergency food assistance and foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt. There is no mention of exceptions for other countries receiving military aid, such as Ukraine or Taiwan.

Based on available reports, the suspension of U.S. foreign aid applies to all recipient nations, including Bangladesh, with only emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt remaining unaffected. However, Indian media outlets have framed their headlines in a way that suggests the aid suspension is directed solely at Bangladesh.

For instance, Zee News published, “Trump Halts All Financial Aid to Bangladesh, Yunus Government in Crisis,” while Anandabazar Patrika Online reported, “America Stops Grant to Bangladesh! New Pressure on Yunus Government.” ABP Ananda ran a similar headline: “U.S. Halts Financial Aid to Bangladesh, Yunus Government Faces More Trouble.”

Additionally, a Bengali-language Indian news portal, Nojorbandi, claimed that the U.S. cut aid to Bangladesh as a consequence of minority persecution in the country. It is worth noting that the aid suspension may also impact India’s development programs. According to Hindustan Times, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has directed all implementing partners to suspend or halt ongoing projects, which could affect several development initiatives in India.

Indian Express also reported that the aid suspension would impact U.S. embassy operations and USAID projects in India related to environmental protection, public health, and other sectors. The overall analysis indicates that a global decision by the U.S. government is being selectively presented by Indian media and various Facebook accounts as if it exclusively targets Bangladesh. Consequently, FactWatch has classified these reports as “misleading.”

Original News Source: https://www.fact-watch.org/us-freezes-foreign-aid-bangladesh-in-indian-media/