WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S-funded aid programs around the world have begun firing staff and shutting down or preparing to stop their operations, as the Trump administration’s unprecedented freeze on almost all foreign assistance brings their work to a sudden halt.

President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on nearly all U.S. foreign aid froze a globe-spanning apparatus that provides assistance ranging from weapons of war to lifesaving medicines. Under an executive order signed during his first week in office,

The U.S. State Department issued a "stop-work" order on Friday for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, according to a cable seen by Reuters, after President Donald Trump ordered a pause to review if aid allocation was aligned with his foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order temporarily suspending foreign aid to Pakistan for a re-evaluation. This has led to several key projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) being put on hold.

The US State Department has frozen nearly all foreign assistance worldwide effective immediately days after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order Monday to put a hold on such assistance for 90 days.

Patients and health care advocates said the abrupt decision to halt U.S. funding for a lifesaving H.I.V. program led to widespread confusion. The backtracking didn’t help.

The move comes after the order sparked widespread criticism and confusion. A federal district judge had temporarily paused the freeze.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said his office confirmed that doctors in all 50 states were not able to secure Medicaid payments.

President defends foreign aid suspension after Secretary of State Marco Rubio's emergency exemption for lifesaving programs