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Shutting down America’s cyber diplomacy arm is part of a widespread pause on US foreign aid programs.
The US Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy has had its funding halted after less than three years of operation.
The funding halt is part of a wider move by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt and re-evaluate foreign assistance programs. At the same time, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday (20 January) pausing foreign aid for 90 days while a funding review is completed.
Two individuals familiar with the matter confirmed with The Record that the freeze included the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, despite Rubio’s guidance not being made publicly available.
Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce outlined the motivations for the funding pause in a 26 January press statement.
“President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people,” Bruce said.
“Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hardworking taxpayers is not just the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative. The secretary is proud to protect America’s investment with a deliberate and judicious review of how we spend foreign assistance dollars overseas.”
According to Bruce, Trump’s election win provided a clear “mandate from the American people”.
“The department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously. The implementation of this executive order and the secretary’s direction furthers that mission,” Bruce said.
For his part, Rubio has said that every US dollar spent on foreign aid must be “justified with the answer to three simple questions”.
“Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” he said.
The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, or CDP, has several key policy units, including international cyber space security, international information and communications policy, digital freedom, and a strategic planning and communications unit. The CDP has assisted several countries in their response to cyber attacks, including Costa Rica and Albania.
The agency was formed under the Biden administration in 2022.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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