Washington, April 16, 2025 — The Europe Today: The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday the cancellation of an additional 139 grants valued at $214 million, in accordance with a directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move is part of the department’s broader efforts to reform its operations and refocus its spending priorities.
“The American taxpayers should not be funding misguided programs,” said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce during a press briefing. “We are cleaning up the mess the previous administration left and rebuilding an agency that’s focused on putting America First.”
The announcement follows media reports on Monday suggesting the Trump administration is considering deep budget cuts for the State Department—possibly slashing its funding by up to 50 percent. Bruce, however, clarified that no official budget proposal has yet been finalized.
“I can tell you that whatever you’ve seen in public was not released from this entity. Was not released from this department. It was not released by the secretary… There is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic—that is up to the White House,” she stated.
An internal memo, first reported by The Washington Post, indicates that funding for 20 international organizations—including the United Nations and NATO—could be eliminated. However, targeted contributions would continue for select bodies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Civil Aviation Authority.
Commenting on the report, Bruce added, “What I can tell you, though, is it really makes me concerned when I see the word ‘eliminate’,” while emphasizing that the United States’ commitment to NATO remains “strong.”
The latest grant cancellations reflect the administration’s push to reassess foreign aid and international contributions, aiming to ensure that U.S. foreign policy expenditures align more closely with national priorities.
