By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 4 March: Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), has confirmed on Monday that US foreign aid under the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) to the Tibetan exile community will continue, despite his earlier announcement about a complete halt to US foreign aid to Tibetans, including USAID and PRM, on the first day of the Tibetan new year (Losar) on 28 February.

The Sikyong told RFA that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the continuation of the PRM aid, stating that the aid directly functions under the US State Department.

“Marco Rubio, who has been a long-time supporter of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and HongKongers, has confirmed that US policy on Tibet will remain unchanged and the PRM aid might continue since it directly comes under the Department of State,” Sikyong Tsering said.

He further stated that “the US aid to the Tibetan community should continue as long as US policy on Tibet remains the same” and added, “however, we must not assume anything is guaranteed.”

Earlier, on the first day of the Tibetan lunar year on 28 February, while addressing a public gathering in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, Sikyong Tsering said that he was officially informed by the US about its complete discontinuation of foreign aid to the Tibetan exile community, including USAID ($7 million) and PRM ($2 million).

The Sikyong further informed that the aid freeze has halted two large-scale projects under the Department of Religion as well as two other five-year projects that are currently in their 4th and 5th years of operation.

The continuation of the $24 million in USAID funding for the Tibetan community has not yet been confirmed.

According to Reuters, Peter Marocco, deputy administrator-designate at the US Agency for International Development, is scheduled to meet with members of Congress on Wednesday to discuss foreign assistance, which has been frozen for 90 days for review following Trump’s accession to power.

It is stated that Marocco will take part in a “round table” with Democrats and Republicans on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to provide an update on the review and reorganisation of foreign aid by Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.

Critics say it is illegal and unconstitutional for the administration to freeze aid and cut USAID without notifying and consulting Congress.

Following the shutdown of the USAID headquarters on 3 February, US Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has condemned the move to shut down, claiming it represents a constitutional crisis.

He argued that the move, which was reportedly influenced by Musk, reflects an attempt by the billionaire elite to control US foreign policy for self-interest.