The United States plans to provide the Philippines with $250 million in new funding to strengthen efforts against tuberculosis, improve maternal health, and address emerging infectious disease threats, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday.
The pledge builds on $63 million in aid unveiled during President Donald Trump’s July meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. Rubio described the funding as part of a “more direct, targeted, and time-limited approach to foreign assistance” under Trump’s America First policy.
Strengthening U.S.-Philippine Health Ties
In a statement, Rubio said the latest support reflects “the comprehensive bond between the United States and the Philippines” and a new model of U.S. foreign health assistance.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington welcomed the announcement but offered no additional comment.
A Shift in U.S. Aid Strategy
The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to reduce or redirect U.S. foreign aid, even as Congress has authorized billions in funding. Lawmakers recently set aside $11 billion for international assistance, though the administration has moved to withhold a portion of that money.
Following legal challenges, officials said they would release $6.5 billion, while the fate of another $4 billion awaits a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite these broader policy shifts, the new commitment to the Philippines underscores the ongoing role of U.S. support in addressing global health challenges.
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