It's here: the first weekly issue of Decoding DOGE. Every Friday, USAFacts will bring you numbers behind the headlines about government funds and the Department of Government Efficiency. And if you like what you see, spread the word! Data is better with friends.
This week: understanding USAID.
What does USAID do?
USAID may sound like alphabet soup, but it stands for the US Agency for International Development. Last week, the Trump administration presented a plan to keep about 300 of the agency’s employees on duty. Thousands of others have been placed on leave. A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt for calling thousands of USAID staffers back to the US from their posts overseas.
Meanwhile, the agency has said that a foreign aid freeze has affected its ability to track $8.2 billion in unspent aid.
USAID is an independent agency within the executive branch but outside the president's cabinet, meaning it has some autonomy. The head of USAID is an administrator nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. They report to the secretary of state.
USAID spent $21.7 billion in federal fiscal year 2024, which accounted for 0.3% of the $6.8 trillion the federal government spent that year.
The agency, created in 1961 as part of the Foreign Assistance Act, administers foreign aid and economic development assistance, which has been linked to national security goals. It does this by:
Supporting economic growth
Supporting global health and fighting epidemics
Building schools and supporting education
Providing humanitarian aid after a crisis
According to USAID and the State Department, Afghanistan received more US foreign aid from fiscal years 2001 to 2023 than any other country. Israel and Iraq followed.
Overall federal spending has risen 193.7% since FY 1980, while USAID spending has risen 106.4%. Spending priorities shift over time due to population growth, policy and program changes, and emerging issues on the global stage.
Want more? Click here to see which countries receive the most US foreign aid or here for more background on USAID.
That’s all for this issue. We’ll see you next Friday. In the meantime, you can explore all things government spending and the top executive-level departments right here.
