US President Donald Trump’s directive to evaluate almost all foreign aid programs has raised concerns about the viability of significant US support to The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), reports RTE.
Last year, the United States gave $4 million (€3.8 million) to the IFI to help with cross-community programs in southern border counties and Northern Ireland.
The IFI, one of the several international initiatives that get support from the US, has been attempting to ascertain if a funding freeze will have an effect on it.
“We have always had a very close relationship with the US Administration. We have enjoyed bipartisan support on a financial, political and often very personal basis which has been critical in building and embedding the level of peace we now enjoy on this island,” IFI Chair Paddy Harte said in a statement to RTÉ News.
“We will continue to work with our US colleagues to establish clarity with what this executive order means,” he added, reports RTE.
Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle, who has successfully led the fight on Capitol Hill to increase the funding in recent years, criticised the move.
“It is outrageous President Trump may be freezing these funds. I will do everything possible to fight it. US government funding for the International Fund for Ireland has played a significant role in sustaining the peace process,” he added, reports RTE.
The United States, one of the biggest contributors next to Ireland, has donated more than half a billion dollars to the IFI since its establishment.
The US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand governments, as well as the European Union, are among the foreign contributors that finance the IFI, which was established as an independent institution by the Irish and British governments in 1986, reports RTE.
The funding has aided in the implementation of peace and reconciliation initiatives, such as tearing down peace barriers and helping youth who may be at danger of joining paramilitary groups.
Other significant initiatives, such as connecting the Shannon and Erne waters from Leitrim to Fermanagh, have also benefited from the money throughout the years, reports RTE.
Last week, Mr. Trump issued an executive order suspending foreign development aid for 90 days while evaluations are conducted to determine its effectiveness and alignment with his foreign policy.
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