Latest news with #KenJackson
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
US considers giving $500 million to new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: Report
The State Department is weighing giving $500 million to the new foundation providing aid to war-shattered Gaza, according to two knowledgeable sources and two former US officials, a move that would involve the US more deeply in a controversial aid effort that has been beset by violence and sources and former US officials, all of whom requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that money for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) would come from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being folded into the US State plan has met resistance from some US officials concerned with the deadly shootings of Palestinians near aid distribution sites and the competence of the GHF, the two sources said. The GHF, which has been fiercely criticised by humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations, for an alleged lack of neutrality, began distributing aid last week amid warnings that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli aid blockade, which was lifted on May 19 when limited deliveries were allowed to foundation has seen senior personnel quit and had to pause handouts twice this week after crowds overwhelmed its distribution State Department and GHF did not immediately respond to requests for has been unable to establish who is currently funding the GHF operations, which began in Gaza last week. The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution at so-called secure distribution Thursday, Reuters reported that a Chicago-based private equity firm, McNally Capital, has an "economic interest" in the for-profit US contractor overseeing the logistics and security of GHF's aid distribution hubs in the US President Donald Trump's administration and Israel say they don't finance the GHF operation, both have been pressing the United Nations and international aid groups to work with US and Israel argue that aid distributed by a long-established UN aid network was diverted to Hamas. Hamas has denied has been all but dismantled. Some 80 percent of its programs have been cancelled and its staff face termination as part of President Donald Trump's drive to align US foreign policy with his "America First" source with knowledge of the matter and one former senior official said the proposal to give the $500 million to GHF has been championed by acting deputy USAID Administrator Ken Jackson, who has helped oversee the agency's source said that Israel requested the funds to underwrite GHF's operations for 180 Israeli government did not immediately respond to a request for two sources said that some US officials have concerns with the plan because of the overcrowding that has affected the aid distribution hubs run by GHF's contractor, and violence officials also want well-established non-governmental organisations experienced in running aid operations in Gaza and elsewhere to be involved in the operation if the State Department approves the funds for GHF, a position that Israel likely will oppose, the sources hospital officials have said more than 80 people had been shot dead and hundreds wounded near GHF's distribution points between June launching its operation, the GHF has opened three hubs, but over the past two days, only two of them have been blamed Israeli soldiers for the killings. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots on two days, while on Tuesday it said soldiers had fired at Palestinian "suspects" advancing towards their Watch IN THIS STORY#Gaza Strip#United States of America
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Economic Development Department hosts resource fair
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The mission of the city of Albuquerque's Economic Development Department is to help businesses thrive. Business advisor Ken Jackson came by to talk about the department's upcoming Small Business Resource Fair on February 19. 'Putting together these opportunities for people that want to start a business or maybe they're already in business, to give them the opportunity where they can come out, network, meet other business owners, speak with other people within our agencies, and get their questions answered on how they should pursue their dreams moving forward,' says Jackson. The event will take place at the Taylor Ranch Community Center at 4900 Kachina St. NW on February 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. More information is available on the Economic Development Department website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
South China Morning Post
26-01-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump memo tells USAID to put ‘America first' in reviewing foreign aid
The Trump administration urged US Agency for International Development (USAID) workers to join the effort to transform how Washington allocates aid around the world in line with Trump's 'America First' policy. It threatened 'disciplinary action' for any staff ignoring the administration's orders. A sharply-worded memo sent on Saturday to more than 10,000 staff at USAID offered further guidance to Friday's 'stop-work' directive that effectively put a sweeping freeze on US foreign aid worldwide. The memo, reviewed by Reuters, laid out expectations for the workforce on how to achieve Trump's goals. 'We have a responsibility to support the President in achieving his vision,' Ken Jackson, assistant to the administrator for management and resources wrote in the internal memo, titled 'Message and Expectation to the Workforce'. 'The President has given us a tremendous opportunity to transform the way we approach foreign assistance for decades to come,' the memo said. Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the memo with several sources. Since taking office last week, Trump has taken steps towards fulfilling his vow to remake a federal bureaucracy he believes was hostile to him during his 2017-2021 presidency. He has reassigned or fired hundreds of federal workers in simultaneous moves against a swathe of agencies. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid to review if it was aligned with his foreign policy priorities. On Friday, the State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing and appropriated assistance, calling into question billions of dollars of life-saving aid.
Reuters
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump administration memo tells USAID: Put "America First"
Summary Internal USAID memo urges staff to align with "America First" Failure to abide by Trump priorities risks punitive action Humanitarian aid groups reeling at pause in U.S. assistance WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Trump administration urged U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers to join the effort to transform how Washington allocates aid around the world in line with Trump's 'America First' policy. It threatened "disciplinary action" for any staff ignoring the administration's orders. A sharply-worded memo sent on Saturday to more than 10,000 staff at USAID offered further guidance to Friday's 'stop-work' directive that effectively put a sweeping freeze on U.S. foreign aid worldwide. The memo, reviewed by Reuters, laid out expectations for the workforce on how to achieve Trump's goals. "We have a responsibility to support the President in achieving his vision," Ken Jackson, assistant to the administrator for management and resources wrote in the internal memo, titled 'Message and Expectation to the Workforce.' "The President has given us a tremendous opportunity to transform the way we approach foreign assistance for decades to come," the memo said. Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the memo with several sources. Since taking office last week, Trump has taken steps toward fulfilling his vow to remake a federal bureaucracy he believes was hostile to him during his 2017-2021 presidency. He has reassigned or fired hundreds of federal workers in simultaneous moves against a swath of agencies. Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid to review if it was aligned with his foreign policy priorities. On Friday, the State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing and appropriated assistance, calling into question billions of dollars of life-saving aid. The United States is the largest single donor of aid globally. In fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance. USAID and the White House National Security Council (NSC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story. Friday's memo shocked the humanitarian groups and communities conducting development aid across the globe. While the scope of the directive appears far-reaching, uncertainties linger over how it will be carried out. The memo on Saturday offered only partial clarity. The pause on foreign aid spending means 'a complete halt,' it said. The only exceptions are for emergency humanitarian food assistance and for government officials returning to their duty stations. Waivers allowing delivery of emergency food during the review period will require 'detailed information and justification.' The memo said further waivers would require two layers of approval – one from USAID leadership and another by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "Any waiver must be thoroughly justified to demonstrate that the specific assistance for which the waiver is sought is necessary for lifesaving purposes, cannot be performed by current U.S. direct hire staff, or would otherwise pose significant risks to national security," the memo said. All foreign assistance programs will undergo 'comprehensive review' during the pause in spending, the memo says. 'It is important to emphasize that it is no longer business as usual. Every program will be thoroughly scrutinized.' Saturday's directive also banned any communications outside the agency, including between USAID and the State Department, unless they are approved by the former's front office. "Failure to abide by this directive, or any of the directives sent out earlier this week and in the coming weeks, will result in disciplinary action," it said. Separately, USAID sent contractors a notice ordering them to 'immediately issue stop-work orders' and to 'amend, or suspend existing awards.' Humanitarian organizations and other donors are scrambling to understand how the directive will impact life-saving operations in countries across the globe. It is too soon to tell whether or what specific services will have to be paused, they said. In 2024, the U.S. provided 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations.
