InterAction, the leading alliance of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and partners in the United States, issued the following statement in response to the Stop-Work Order issued by the State Department:

America’s humanitarian and development organizations work tirelessly to save lives and advance U.S. interests globally, powered by the generosity of the American people and in partnership with the U.S. government.

The recent stop-work cable from the State Department suspends programs that support America’s global leadership and creates dangerous vacuums that China and our adversaries will quickly fill. This halt interrupts critical life-saving work including clean water to infants, basic education for kids, ending the trafficking of girls, and providing medications to children and others suffering from disease. It stops assistance in countries critical to U.S. interests, including Taiwan, Syria, and Pakistan. And, it halts decades of life-saving work through PEPFAR that helps babies to be born HIV-free.

The foreign assistance review mandated by the President should proceed without disrupting existing programs, especially those programs millions need to survive. The stop-work is costly in time and funding and the impact to U.S. influence globally will be irreparable.

We urge Secretary of State Rubio and the Administration to continue America’s vital life-saving work during the foreign assistance review process to maintain our nation’s global leadership and values.