Weeks after the former president of Honduras Manuel Zelaya criticized Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for not doing enough to oppose the coup government that took over the country on June 28, 2009, it was announced that the United States would be terminating $22 million in aid.

“Restoration of the terminated assistance will be predicated upon a
return to democratic, constitutional governance in Honduras,” said the State Department announcement.

Charles Luoma-Overstreet, a spokesman for Clinton, told the NY Times that the Secretary was forced to take a tougher stance after, “recognizing the need for strong measures in light of the continued
resistance to the adoption of the San Jose Accord by the de facto
regime and continuing failure to restore democratic, constitutional
rule to Honduras.”

The State department officially acknowledged that the events of the coup involved, "complex factual and legal questions and the
participation of both the legislative and judicial branches of
government as well as the military."

Restoration of the aid is dependent on the presidential elections scheduled for November being conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Officials say that as it stands currently, the United States government would be unable to support the outcome of any elections held. It was reiterated that in order for the elections to be recognized, the San Jose accord, an agreement brokered by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias would have to be accepted, allowing Zelaya to return to power ahead of the November elections. Although interim president Roberto Micheletti had
been open to the accord, he was unable to gain enough support from the Honduran
congress to sign the document.