Key Facts
Key Information
About
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal agency established by Executive Order in 1961 under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.). It administers U.S. civilian foreign aid, including economic, development, and humanitarian assistance programs worldwide, serving as the focal point for economic matters in U.S. relations with developing countries. USAID operates in over 100 countries with missions conducting socio-economic analysis, project design, grants, contracts, and evaluations. Key initiatives include Feed the Future, Global Health, Power Africa, Global Climate Change, the Denton Program (humanitarian cargo transport), and efforts in democracy promotion, women's empowerment, education, and conflict recovery. It has funded programs in countries such as Egypt and Jordan, where individuals like David Schenker have worked as project coordinators. USAID is funded by Congress through State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations, with an Administrator who reports to the Secretary of State for foreign policy guidance. Its workforce exceeds 10,000 across 73 offices. In FY 2023, it managed approximately $40-50 billion in funds, disbursing nearly $44 billion to 160 countries and regions, with major recipients including Ukraine (37%), Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Somalia. USAID partners with faith-based organizations and NGOs via WorkwithUSAID.gov (available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish) and is subject to GAO audits on areas such as humanitarian assistance, counternarcotics, and democracy programs. Recent actions under the Trump administration include an executive order on January 20, 2025, pausing and reevaluating foreign aid, resulting in program suspensions, staff reductions to approximately 15 positions, and website inaccessibility; Secretary Marco Rubio was appointed Acting Administrator on February 3, 2025.