Trump’s orders stir uncertainty on aid
United States of America President Donald Trump’s signing of executive orders, including the temporary suspension of all US foreign assistance programmes for 90 days pending review has created uncertainty on aid to Malawi.
Barely hours after his inauguration as the 47th President on his return to the White House, Trump issued orders that come at a time Malawi gets $350 million (K606. 9 billion) from the US government per year in bilateral assistance covering health, agriculture, education, environment, transport and governance.

When asked on the implications of the orders to Malawi, officials at the US Embassy in Lilongwe said in a written response yesterday that they needed more time before responding to our questionnaire.
“Looking at how complex the issues raised are, we will not be able to respond to meet your deadline,” said US Embassy strategic communications specialist Marcus Muhariwa.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo had not yet responded to our questionnaire by press time at 9pm yesterday while Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda said they have yet to inform Foreign Affairs officials on the implications of the executive orders.
But during the announcement on Monday, Trump said according to US policy, no further foreign assistance shall be disbursed in ways that are contrary to their foreign policy.
He said: “All department and agency heads with responsibility for United States foreign development assistance programs shall immediately pause new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds to foreign countries and implement non-governmental organisations, international organisations, and contractors pending reviews.”
Trump further said department and agency heads, with assistance from Office of Management and Budget (OMB), will decide on whether to continue, modify, or stop foreign assistance where the Secretary of State and OMB director will play crucial roles in approving modified obligations for programmes.
For countries such as Malawi, Trump’s order for the US to withdraw its World Health Organisation (WHO) membership is already being seen as a huge blow to the fight against diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and Aids.
Trump’s stance on illegal immigration has also ignited fears of mass deportations of Malawians who in recent times have entered into the US with ease while his withdrawal from the Paris Convention could likely affect Malawi’s efforts to fight climate change.
In an interview yesterday, economist Milward Tobias said at this point it remains unclear if Malawi will be within the US government’s priority areas at the end of the 90-day review window.
He said: “Aid for programmes comes through different channels, local and international organisations. We do not know if funding for programmes will continue within and after the 90 days. .”
But Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) acting president Bertha Bangara-Chikadza said US-funded programmes whose funding was already disbursed like the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, are unlikely to be affected.
According to the USAid website, the US government has invested more than $196 million (about K343 billion) to implement the National Reading Programme in all of Malawi’s public primary schools.
The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the Department of State and USAid is $42.8 billion for foreign assistance.