A recent poll shows that most Americans still support foreign aid to provide disaster relief, prevent disease outbreaks, and improve security. The poll, commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation, found that 70% of Americans support foreign aid after being briefed on what it accomplishes.
Support Grows After Education
When told that foreign aid accounts for just 1% of the U.S. budget, Americans’ support grew to 70% from 54%. Republican support reached 58%, and even supporters of President Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement backed aid by 50%.
The Trump administration had dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2025, resulting in the firing of over 10,000 personnel and contractors and the cancellation of thousands of programs. This has led to a significant decrease in U.S. foreign aid disbursements, from $72 billion in 2024 to $47 billion in 2025.
The poll also found that 78% of those surveyed favored maintaining or expanding foreign aid outlays. This data suggests that Americans have not lost their appetite for supporting global development and humanitarian efforts.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
