Pew Research: U.S. Foreign Aid in 2025: Where the Money Goes
The Pew Research Center recently analyzed U.S. foreign aid, examining its funding, purpose, distribution, and public perception. With $58.4 billion projected for international assistance programs in 2025, foreign aid remains vital to U.S. global engagement, even as the Trump administration seeks to reduce aid and dismantle USAID.
What is U.S. Foreign Aid Money Used For?
Foreign aid supports humanitarian assistance, economic development, and global health initiatives. Funds are allocated to poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, disaster relief, and conflict response. In 2023, the largest shares went to macroeconomic support ($15.9B), disaster relief ($15.6B), and HIV/AIDS efforts ($10.6B).
What About Military Assistance?
While foreign aid includes military assistance, it accounted for only $8.2 billion (11.4%) of the $71.9 billion spent in 2023. Broader military sales, including $117.9 billion in government-brokered arms sales and $200.8 billion in private arms exports in 2024, significantly exceed direct military aid.
Who Receives U.S. Foreign Aid?
In 2023, aid went to 177 countries. Ukraine ($16.6B) was the top recipient, largely for economic and military support. Other major recipients included Israel ($3.3B in military aid), Ethiopia, Jordan, Egypt, and Afghanistan.
Who Distributes U.S. Foreign Aid?
USAID and the State Department manage most aid, with USAID distributing $43.8 billion in 2023. Recent administrative actions freezing funding and transferring functions to the State Department have raised concerns about future aid operations.
How U.S. Foreign Aid Supports American Farmers
U.S. foreign aid supports American farmers by creating new markets for agricultural exports. Programs like Food for Peace buy U.S.-grown commodities—such as wheat, soy, and corn—to distribute as humanitarian aid. This helps stabilize global food supplies while benefiting U.S. agriculture. Foreign aid investments in agricultural development abroad also increase demand for American farming equipment, seeds, and technology.
Does Foreign Aid Help Keep Americans Safe?
Foreign aid contributes to global stability and security, funding counterterrorism ($417.8M), nonproliferation ($331.7M), and anti-narcotics efforts ($126.5M). It also aids in disease control, with $16B allocated to health initiatives in 2023, addressing threats like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and influenza.