Aid Freeze Could Be Boon For Authoritarian Strongmen

MIAMI (AP) — When President Donald Trump froze foreign assistance for 90 days, he argued that such a drastic step was needed to eliminate waste and block what he derides as “woke” spending that doesn’t align with American interests. Experts say the suspension has a serious consequence: It could prove to be a boon to authoritarian leaders and their regimes. The billions that the U.S. spends annually on foreign aid — more than any other nation — include hundreds of grants for grassroots groups dedicated to fighting for democracy and against corruption.