France, Feb. 5 -- Three weeks into Donald Trump's second presidency of the United States, the global aid sector is in disarray as Washington reviews its foreign aid policy to ensure it aligns with the America First agenda. Funds have been frozen or slashed while the USAID agency is being dismantled.

"We were caught off guard. This is a big, big blow for us. No funds from the United States government means 40 percent of our budget gone," said Donald Makwakwa, executive director of the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM).

"It means that a quarter of our staff had to stop work immediately, thousands of people seeking health care had to be sent back."

Malawi is one of the numerous countries hard hit by Trump'sdecision to slash for...