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handle is hein.crs/govereo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: U.S. Foreign Assistance What ls U.S. Foreign Assistance? Foreign assistance is an instrument of U.S. foreign policy through which the U.S. government provides resources to strategically important countries, countries in conflict, and other populations in need. Most U.S. foreign assistance is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); the U.S. Departments of State, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, the Treasury, and Defense; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. U.S. foreign assistance can take many forms. Most aid is provided on a grant basis through projects implemented by nonprofit organizations, businesses, U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and multilateral organizations. Projects may support assets such as vaccines, malaria nets, food, weapons and other military hardware, textbooks, and roads and other infrastructure. It may also include interventions like expert technical advice, training, engineering advice, and research products, among others, in a wide range of sectors (see Figure 1). Aid may also be provided as direct budget support (cash) to foreign governments or multilateral organizations. Congress authorizes and appropriates foreign assistance through legislation, including the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations laws. It also conducts oversight of foreign aid programs via reporting and notification requirements, oversight hearings, and examination of Office of Inspector General and Government Accountability Office audits and investigations, among other means. Rat onales for Providing U.S. Foreign Assistance Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and other policymakers present a range of arguments for and against U.S. foreign assistance. Advocates cite three broad and overlapping rationales in support of foreign aid: (1) National Security. Aid may help build stability and counter international threats by promoting global prosperity, public health, environmental protection, democracy and the rule of law, and the military readiness and security of U.S. partners and allies. (2) Commercial Interests. Supporting economic growth and trade integration may expand markets for U.S. exports, fostering U.S. economic opportunity and jobs. (3) U.S. Values and Goodwill. Meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, and medicine of vulnerable populations, and broadly fighting global poverty, may effectively reflect U.S. values and global leadership. Critics maintain that foreign assistance efforts have often been ineffective and wasteful. Other critics argue that foreign aid funds would be better used to address domestic priorities, or to reduce the federal deficit. Updated November 1, 2024 How Much Is Spent on U.S. ForeIgn Assistance? In FY2022, the most recent year for which near- comprehensive data are available (and used throughout this In Focus for that reason), the United States obligated an estimated $70.3 billion in foreign assistance from all sources, as reported by the foreignassistance.gov database. This represented about 1% of the total federal budget (Figure 1) and 3.9% of discretionary budget authority. Assistance included funds pursuant to the SFOPS appropriations and aid from other agency appropriations. Figure I. Foreign Aid as a Portion of Federal Budget Authority and by Sector, FY2022 Humanitarian Assistance, 25% Health, 21% Economic Development, 18% S Peace Ind securlty, 18% Multi sector, V% Program Support, 6% Democracy/Governance 3% Education and Social Services, 2% Environment, 1% Net obligations Source: Foreignassistance.gov data accessed on October 17, 2024; CRS calculations. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, among official development assistance donors, the United States ranked first in the world in 2022 in dollar terms, but near the bottom when assistance levels were presented as a percentage of gross national income. Who Receives U.S. Foreign Ass stance? Figure 2. Top Recipients of U.S. Aid, FY2022 Ukraine $12,433 Israel $3,309 Ethiopia $2,190 Afghanistan $1,389 Yemen $1,376 Egypt $1,369 Jordan $1,189 Nigeria $1,155 Somalia $1,137 Net obligations South Sudan $1,124 $ U.S. in millions Source: Foreignassistance.gov data accessed on October 17, 2024; CRS calculations. Approximately 180 countries and territories received U.S. assistance in FY2022, reflecting the broad use of aid as a diplomatic and strategic tool. Top U.S. bilateral aid recipients are typically strategic allies, countries in humanitarian crisis, counterterrorism partners, or global

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