Foreign Aid Distribution in the United States

Distribution of Aid

Introduction to Foreign Aid Distribution

Several agencies are involved in distributing American foreign aid. The Department of Defense and the Department of State distribute military assistance. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) distributes most of the government’s development and food assistance, including money from the ESF. The Department of Agriculture also provides food aid. In addition, private voluntary organizations often cooperate with the U.S. government to distribute aid. For example, religious organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, and secular nonprofit organizations such as CARE, often work with the government to provide assistance to people around the world.

The Congress of the United States has criticized USAID for being inefficient and having duplicate functions. Several policymakers have sought to eliminate USAID and incorporate its work into the Department of State. In fact, under a 1999 reorganization plan, USAID lost some of its autonomy, and the Department of State gained greater influence over its direction and operation. In this sense, the degree of political control over foreign assistance has increased.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Foreign Aid Distribution in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Foreign Aid Distribution

In this Section

Foreign Aid, Foreign Aid Types, Foreign Aid Distribution, Foreign Aid History, Foreign Aid Support and Foreign Aid Future. See also Foreign Policy and Foreign Service.

About U.S. Federal Departments

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy

(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.