The recent suspension of United States foreign aid is set to affect several key development programmes in the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region. On 20 January 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting U.S foreign development assistance for 90 days, in order to review the efficiency and alignment of aid programmes with U.S foreign policy.
The suspension impacts a variety of initiatives, including those supporting infrastructure, healthcare, education, and media development in the Solomon Islands. Local organisations and government officials are awaiting further guidance on the status of U.S-funded projects during this review period.
Among the programmes affected by the suspension is the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which has been working on rural infrastructure and land access projects in the Solomon Islands. These projects, aimed at improving access to vital services in remote areas, have now been paused as part of the broader review of U.S foreign assistance.
The Pacific American Fund (PAF), which funds small-scale infrastructure projects across the Pacific, is also impacted. The suspension is likely to delay programmes related to water sanitation, housing, and other community development initiatives in the Solomon Islands.
Additionally, a programme focused on clearing unexploded ordnance from World War II in certain rural areas of the country will also be affected.
Internews, an organisation focused on strengthening media development in the Pacific, has confirmed that its programmes in the Solomon Islands are also on hold. The suspension will delay efforts to enhance local journalism, improve media infrastructure and promote freedom of information in the region.
Other U.S-funded programmes, including those supported by the East-West Centre and USAID, are also suspended. These programmes focus on various sectors, including education, health, and economic development. The East-West Centre’s exchanges and regional cooperation initiatives, which foster U.S-Pacific relations, are particularly affected.
The suspension of U.S foreign aid is expected to delay ongoing projects that address critical development needs in the Solomon Islands. Key sectors, including health and education, may face disruptions, while rural communities, which rely on small-scale infrastructure projects, could see setbacks.
The U.S government has announced a 90-day review period for foreign development assistance programmes, which will evaluate their alignment with U.S foreign policy. During this time, no new obligations or disbursements of aid will be made. The future of ongoing and upcoming projects in the Solomon Islands remains uncertain, with local development partners and officials awaiting further clarification.
The U.S government has indicated that after the review period, some programmes may resume if they are found to align with new policy priorities. However, it remains unclear when or if current programmes in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific will be reinstated.
