The U.S. government announced a sweeping foreign aid overhaul on December 8, 2025, with the Trump administration declaring that taxpayer dollars will no longer flow to nations deemed hostile to American interests. In a blunt statement released ahead of a cabinet meeting, officials warned: “No more taxpayer dollars for hostile nations that hate America. If you vote against us at the UN, chant ‘Death to America,’ or fund anti-American NGOs, you’re cut off. Period.”

The policy was formally outlined during a cabinet meeting in Washington, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented the administration’s new foreign aid restrictions. Rubio stated that the United States will withhold funds from governments that vote against the U.S. at the United Nations, publicly call for harm against America, or provide financial support to NGOs engaged in anti-U.S. activities. He emphasized that the reforms reflect President Trump’s “America First” approach to international engagement.

The announcement builds on earlier 2025 measures, including a February executive order slashing broad categories of foreign assistance and a June legislative push led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn to tie U.S. aid eligibility to UN voting alignment. Together, the initiatives aim to redirect federal resources away from countries the administration says undermine American security or diplomacy, with officials citing adversaries such as Iran as key examples.

The new rules are expected to reshape U.S. foreign assistance relationships, potentially affecting dozens of countries that have historically opposed U.S. positions in multilateral institutions. Supporters argue the reforms will protect taxpayers and strengthen U.S. leverage at the UN, while critics warn the approach could destabilize partnerships, reduce U.S. influence abroad, and punish civilian populations in affected countries.

Rubio concluded the briefing by asserting that the United States will maintain assistance only for partners who “stand with America, not against it,” signaling a major shift in how Washington intends to use foreign aid as a diplomatic tool in 2026 and beyond.