Breaking Down USAID Spending: What Critics Get Wrong

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) recently asserted that only 10-30% of U.S. foreign aid from USAID effectively assists those in need. Nonetheless, an examination of USAID’s 2024 funding report indicates that this assertion inaccurately portrays the agency's budget allocation process.

Mast's remarks, delivered during a Feb. 2 appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation", implied that USAID funding is poorly managed, asserting that a more significant portion is allocated to D.C. events rather than genuine aid efforts. Nonetheless, former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) and experts challenge this assertion, explaining that Mast refers to the proportion of USAID funds allocated to small, local organizations—not the overall expenditure on aid.

USAID’s latest report indicates that approximately 12.1% of its funding is allocated directly to local organizations in developing nations. International aid groups, U.S.-based organizations, and private-sector partners distribute the remaining funds, which are then used to provide food, medicine, and economic support abroad.

The statistic presented by Mast has gained attention as the Trump administration plans to suspend USAID operations, with Elon Musk at the forefront of a government cost-cutting commission assessing the agency's future. In the meantime, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested the possibility of reforms instead of a complete shutdown.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding USAID's future, efforts to fact-check and dispel misinformation regarding the actual expenditure of U.S. foreign aid persist.

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