14 APRIL-MAY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL since supported more than 400,000 people to study, teach, and do research in the U.S. and abroad. As of press time in mid-March, there was no clarity on when and whether Fulbright funding would be restored to current grant recipients and those in the pipeline. SIGAR Releases 66th Quarterly Report The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has released its 66th Quarterly Report to Congress, providing an update on U.S. assistance to Afghanistan amid shifting policy directives and a foreign assistance funding freeze. The State Department and USAID halted funding reviews and issued stop-work orders on existing foreign assistance projects in Afghanistan. Since its withdrawal in 2021, the U.S. has spent approximately $3.71 billion in Afghanistan, with most of the funding directed to UN agencies and the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund. An additional $1.2 billion remains available for potential disbursement. The report identifies concerns that the Taliban continues to hold U.S. citizens hostage, restrict women’s rights, and provide safe haven to terrorist groups. SIGAR suggests that the U.S. government should reassess its approach to ensuring aid does not inadvertently benefit the Taliban regime. A pressing issue raised in the report is the status of $4 billion in Afghan central bank assets, held in the Swiss-based Fund for the Afghan People. The report notes that Congress and the administration may consider returning these funds to U.S. control, as the Taliban is not a legally recognized government. SIGAR continues its oversight efforts, with recent audits identifying $1.1 million in questionable expenses related to U.S. funding in Afghanistan. This quarter also saw one conviction resulting from a fraud investigation. Moving forward, SIGAR plans to release a final forensic audit and a lessons learned report focused on the challenges of providing aid while minimizing Taliban influence. With U.S. policymakers reassessing foreign aid strategy, the future of American engagement in the country remains uncertain. The full report is available at https:// bit.ly/SIGAR66. Changes to Gender Identification in Passports On Jan. 20, the White House issued an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” It calls for eliminating the X gender marker in U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA). Only M or F markers, matching biological sex at birth, will be issued. Those requesting changes may face delays and receive requests for additional information. Existing passports remain valid until expiration under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) policy. This order extends beyond passports. It dismantles diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies, reversing Biden-era initiatives. Agencies must eliminate DEI offices and initiatives, with language in grants and contracts also revised. Phrases including “indigenous community,” “gender-based violence,” and even “women” have been flagged for removal from government communications. A February 2025 order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” bans transgender athletes from women’s competitions. U.S. consular officials have been instructed to deny visas to transgender athletes, and those suspected of misrepresenting sex on applications may face permanent bans. Ahead of the 2028 Olympics, the Secretary of State is working with the International Olympic Committee to ensure women’s sports eligibility is based on biological sex. T his month, we spotlight OneAid Community, a platform dedicated to supporting global humanitarian work. Designed as a nonpartisan collaborative hub, OneAid connects humanitarian assistance, international development, and national security professionals and partners to share resources, expertise, and crisis response updates. The platform offers a crowdsourced database of humanitarian projects, enabling users to track, contribute to, and learn from ongoing initiatives worldwide. It also features discussion forums and expert-led insights on topics such as disaster relief, health care, and refugee support. Site of the Month: OneAid Community The appearance of a particular site or podcast is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement. (Continued from page 12)
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