The FCDO is expanding support to US-based aid agencies who have had their grants slashed by Trump’s USAID cuts. British taxpayers are filling in the gaps…
USAID cuts reduced total US aid spending from $68bn in 2024 to $32bn in 2025 and terminated 83% of programmes. Despite a squeeze in the UK’s aid funding, the FCDO is bolstering support for American agencies without competitive processes…
The FCDO announced this week that support of the UK DIGIT programme doing work in Ukraine – led by the DC-based Eurasia Foundation – has been extended for a second year to March 2027. A project that started at £4.6 million has been expanded to £14 million…
The Asia Foundation – operated out of San Francisco – has recently been given a large portfolio of projects in Bangladesh. Mercy Corps out of Portland, Oregon also continues to receive FCDO funding on multiple live programmes worth tens of millions. No interest in building up British soft power then…
The International Rescue Committee, based in New York and led by David Miliband who was paid £983,073 in a year with a £117,701 bonus, is expanding its UK-taxpayer funded teams. It said last year that it was building a “global talent pool of senior professionals to lead and support FCDO-funded programs” in expectation of further grants…
Leaving aside the evident need to help pay Miliband’s salary, the British government’s own overseas assistance policy should be about financing British assistance. Not bailing out US organisations affected by the reduction in US aid spending…
A government source said: “Funnelling cash to the Americans was an old reflex at the Department for International Development to ‘improve’ the special relationship – it is a different world now.” No ‘Love Actually stand up to the Americans moment’ forthcoming from Yvette Cooper…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”