VOTER POWER

Foreign Aid

Myth: The average American believes foreign aid is 31% of the federal budget.
Fact: Foreign aid makes up only 1% of the budget, or about what we pay for three aircraft carriers.

Despite America’s position in the world as a powerful nation, many Americans believe we are routinely taken advantage of by the rest of the world, from NATO to China. They think our treaties have been poorly crafted to our disadvantage. Any amount spent on foreign aid is seen as a waste since so many of us think the beneficiaries of our generosity still hate us and seek to destroy us.

Where is the line between doing our civic duty in the world and spending wisely when it comes to foreign aid?

Foreign Aid Is Defense Spending

Foreign Aid Is Defense Spending

Foreign aid money is less than 1 percent of the federal budget, yet President Trump wants to zero it out. However, cutting the foreign aid budget would do little to promote American interests and may even do more to hurt our economy and promote international terrorism than it would to protect Americans or help our economy.

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Is Foreign Aid Really a Scandal?

Is Foreign Aid Really a Scandal?

One of the common misconceptions about foreign aid is that it takes up a huge portion of the federal budget—one reason many people think of it as a scandalous use of taxpayer money. However, according to government agency USAID, it actually makes up less than 1% of...

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America + Russia = Our New Foreign Policy

America + Russia = Our New Foreign Policy

President Trump gave a major foreign policy speech this past week at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in which he outlined a radical new, America First direction for US foreign policy. Instead of a US foreign policy based on multi-lateral...

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Vast Global Conspiracy?

Vast Global Conspiracy?

Myth: The average American believes foreign aid is 31% of the federal budget. Fact: Our entire foreign aid budget is only 1% of the budget, or about what we pay for three aircraft carriers. America is strong, and we all believe we can and should use that strength to...

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