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Government Agency

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Website:

www.usaid.gov/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

53-0197906
Status:

Independent U.S. Government Agency
Formation:

1961
Administrator:

Samantha Power
Budget (2023):

$50.09 Billion 1

References

  1. “Agency for International Development.” USASpending.gov. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/agency-for-international-development?fy=2023.

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent U.S. government agency that has traditionally managed and administered American foreign aid, financial support for developing nations, humanitarian assistance programs, climate-related issues, 1 and various global health programs. 2 3 4

Former Obama administration Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power is the administrator of USAID as of 2024. 5

USAID is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has released two equity action plans since 2022. 6 7 During the Biden administration, USAID has faced criticism for allegedly funding groups with ties to terrorism, 8 funding pro-migration groups 9 10 11 and supporting left-of-center gender policies. 12 13

History

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was founded on November 3, 1961, with the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Originally, USAID was meant to expand the technical assistance and capital projects that the U.S. government funded as a part of the Marshall Plan and other post-World War II development plans. 14

In the 1970s, USAID shifted away from technical and capital assistance programs to a “basic human needs” approach that focused on food and nutrition, population planning, health, education, and human resource development projects. USAID shifted its focus to stabilizing currencies and financial systems, promoting market-based principles to restructure developing countries’ economies, supporting agriculture, and expanding domestic markets in the 1980s. 15

In the 1990s, USAID shifted its focus to sustainable development, integrated packages of assistance, support for transnational countries, and supporting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in countries with a limited USAID presence. 16

Leadership

As of April 2024, Samantha Power is the Administrator of U.S. Agency for International Development. 17

Prior to joining the Biden administration, Power held several roles in the Obama administration. From 2013 to 2017, she was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. In this role, she supported the adoption of the Paris climate accords, negotiated and implemented the left-of-center United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and advocated for broader support for refugees. 18

From 2009 to 2013, Power worked on the Obama administration White House National Security Council staff as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. Power advocated for left-of-center approaches to democratic governance, United Nations reform, LGBT advocacy, and women’s issues. 19 Power also was a foreign policy advisor on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, but resigned after referring to then-campaign rival Hillary Clinton as a “monster” during an interview. 20

Gillian Caldwell is USAID’s Chief Climate Officer. In this role, she oversees USAID’s climate- and environment-related work. Caldwell led the completion of USAID’s Climate Strategy, attempted to maximize USAID’s climate budget, and supported supplemental aid packages for Ukraine. Prior to joining USAID, Caldwell operated a consulting business with numerous clients including the Obama administration White House Office for Public Engagement, Ashoka, Center for Community Change, Color of Change, Common Cause, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, the Wallace Global Fund, and Arabella Advisors. She has worked on the board of directors of EarthRights International, as the executive director of Global Witness, and as the director of 1Sky, which she helped launch. 21 22 23

Activities and Funding

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent U.S government agency that has traditionally managed and administered American foreign aid, financial support for developing nations, humanitarian assistance programs, climate-related issues, 24 and various global health programs. 25 26 27

USAID receives overall foreign policy guidance from the U.S. Secretary of State. 28 The agency has a global staff of approximately 11,000 individuals located in more than 100 countries, 29 with activities in more than 150 countries. 30 Biden administration USAID Administrator Samantha Power is the first USAID Administrator to sit as a member of the White House National Security Council. 31

In 2022, USAID had over 800 active partnerships with private sector companies that funded over $38 billion in programming. 32 USAID is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the agency 33 and coordinates with the U.S. Department of State on the 2022-2026 Strategic Framework. This document guides agency-level cooperation between USAID and the Department of State on workforce issues, climate change policy, and advancing far-left DEI issues. 34

USAID also has internal plans to promote the left-wing concept of an equitable workforce, enhance equity, and address internal systems that allegedly inhibit diversity efforts across the agency. 35

Equity Action Plan

In support of the Biden administration Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, 36 U.S. Agency for International Development released its first Equity Action Plan in 2022. 37

USAID’s 2022 Equity Action Plan called for the integration of the left-wing concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in USAID’s programming. It also designates inclusive development advisors at each USAID mission, implements an approach to racial and ethnic equity and diversity in its policies, and attempts to lower barriers to USAID awards. 38

In 2024, USAID released its second Equity Action Plan. 39 The revised action plan includes whole-of-government approaches to global equity promotion and the critical race theory-influenced concepts of racial, environmental, and economic justice. 40

Social Policy

In 2023, the Biden administration announced the U.S. Agency for International Development’s 2023 LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy, which serves as a blueprint for USAID to advance left-of-center inclusive development and LGBT policy priorities. USAID has worked with left-of-center Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice on these policies. 41 USAID’s official policy affirms LGBT people and others of “diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics” (SOGIESC) as integral parts of every society and commits USAID staff to this objective. 42

During the Biden administration, USAID has released left-of-center programs for inclusive development, which advocates for a far-left, equitable development approach, to development and international assistance. 43 It also has supported “strategic religious engagement” with respect and inclusivity, 44 the far-left concept of gender equity, 45 left-of-center approaches to gender equality and women’s empowerment policy, youth policies, 46 and other policies that support the liberal concept of equitable gender norms. 47

USAID also works to support left-of-center Biden administration climate policy objectives, including scaling up international climate programs, transitioning the global energy transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and promoting environmentalist approaches to traditional energy sources and climate adaptation. 48

Migration Policy

U.S. Agency for International Development has played a role in implementing the Biden administration’s pro-migration policies. In 2024, it was announced that USAID has spent more than $450 million to support returned migrants in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as a part of efforts to address the root cause of migration in Central America. 49 50

USAID has made multi-million-dollar grants to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its Community Stabilization Unit, which supports migrants. Since partnering with IOM on migrant-related issues in January 2023, USAID has funded 47 subgrants to direct beneficiaries, departments, and municipalities in Guatemala. It also helped create an IOM field process in Guatemala, and fund projects to understand the root causes of illegal migration at the local level. The project with IOM is expected to run from April 2021 to April 2026 with a total USAID investment of $50 million. 51 52

USAID has given also has given grants to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which also supports increased migration efforts. In 2021, IRC received $5,018,838 of revenue from USAID. 53 Also in 2023, USAID paid the Inter-American Development Bank $25 million to improve integration of migrants and refugees in host nations. 54

Controversies

In 2024, U.S. Agency for International Development faced controversy for issuing a $110,000 grant to Michigan-based Helping Hand for Relief and Development, which members of Congress have alleged to have links with terrorists, including the Pakistan-based Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation. After the $110,000 grant, USAID made an additional $78,000 grant in October according to federal spending records, despite facing inspector general investigations for these grants. 55

In 2023, USAID’s Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance released a “Disinformation Primer” in which the agency creates an overview of “disinformation culture” and addresses different ways to address what it considers disinformation, primarily censorship of free speech. The report calls disinformation an “existential threat to democracy” and claims that society relies on journalists, media outlets, and bloggers to shape national dialogue. It also calls the concepts of hate speech and dangerous speech a “potentially life-threatening aspect of information disorder.” The report also calls for increased fact checking, redirection of advertisers on platforms including Google AdWords away from what is considered disinformation, debunking and discrediting of information the Department of State’s Global Engagement Center considers disinformation, and also a controversial “prebunking” strategy which prepares social networks for what could be misinformation. 56

Funding

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) receives funding from U.S. government appropriations. In fiscal year 2024, the official budget request for the U.S. Department of State and USAID totaled $63.1 billion for foreign assistance and diplomatic engagement, which includes $32 billion in foreign assistance for USAID. This accounts for a 10 percent increase above the fiscal year 2023 adjusted levels. The 2024 budget request includes more than $1 billion across State and USAID to address illegal migration across Central America, $224.9 million to sustain and expand migration management in the Western Hemisphere, 57 $3.1 billion for the implementation of the Biden administration’s National Strategy for Gender Equity and Equality, and $6.5 billion of USAID-administered humanitarian funds. 58

In Fiscal Year 2023, USAID received $50.09 billion distributed among its four sub-components. 59

References

  1. “Administrator Samantha Power at the Global Summit on Extreme Heat.” USAID. March 28, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/speeches/mar-28-2024-administrator-samantha-power-global-summit-extreme-heat.
  2. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  3. “Providing Humanitarian Assistance.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/providing-humanitarian-assistance.
  4. “Promoting Global Health.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/promoting-global-health.
  5. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  6. “Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government.” The White House, Executive Order 13985. January 20, 2021. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/.
  7. “EO 13985 USAID Agency Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan/2022.
  8. Notheis, Asher. “Gabe Kaminsky and Ben Shapiro discuss Washington Examiner story on Biden funding terrorism-linked group.” Washington Examiner. February 29, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2896041/gabe-kaminsky-ben-shapiro-discuss-washington-examiner-story-biden-funding-terrorism-linked-group/.
  9. “USAID Increases Efforts to Address Irregular Migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.” USAID. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/fact-sheet/usaid-increases-efforts-address-irregular-migration-el-salvador-guatemala-and-honduras
  10. “FACT SHEET: Update on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America.” The White House. March 25, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/25/fact-sheet-update-on-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america-3/.
  11. “USAID Announces More Than $450 Million in Development Funding to Address Root Causes of Migration in Central America.” USAID. November 28, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/nov-28-2023-usaid-announces-more-450-million-development-funding-address-root-causes-migration-central-america.
  12. “2023 LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/policy/lgbtqi.
  13. “LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy.” USAID. July 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/USAID_LGBTQI-Inclusive-Development-Policy_August-2023_1.pdf.
  14. “USAID History.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/usaid-history#:~:text=On%20November%203%2C%201961%2C%20USAID,spirit%20of%20progress%20and%20innovation.
  15. “Celebrating Sixty Years of Progress.” USAID. Accessed March 29, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/usaid-history.
  16. “Celebrating Sixty Years of Progress.” USAID. Accessed March 29, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/usaid-history.
  17. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  18. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  19. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  20. Bohan, Caren. “Obama aide quits over Clinton “monster” comment.” Reuters. March 9, 2008. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-obama/obama-aide-quits-over-clinton-monster-comment-idUSN0736465820080307/.
  21. “Gillian Caldwell.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/gillian-caldwell.
  22. “Home.” Gillian Caldwell Consulting. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://gilliancaldwell.com/.
  23. “Board of Directors.” EarthRights International. Accessed via Web Archive March 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20190218180845/https://earthrights.org/about/board-of-directors-and-leadership-council/.
  24. “Administrator Samantha Power at the Global Summit on Extreme Heat.” USAID. March 28, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/speeches/mar-28-2024-administrator-samantha-power-global-summit-extreme-heat.
  25. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  26. “Providing Humanitarian Assistance.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/providing-humanitarian-assistance.
  27. “Promoting Global Health.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/promoting-global-health.
  28. “Frequently Asked Questions.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/peru/frequently-asked-questions#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20Agency%20for,2.
  29. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  30. “USAID Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan.
  31. “Samantha Power.” USAID. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/organization/samantha-power.
  32. “USAID Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan.
  33. “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion.
  34. “Joint Strategic Plan 2022-2026.” U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development. March 2022. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Final-State-USAID-FY-2022-2026-Joint-Strategic-Plan_29MAR2022.pdf.
  35. “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion.
  36. “Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government.” The White House, Executive Order 13985. January 20, 2021. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/.
  37. “EO 13985 USAID Agency Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan/2022.
  38.  “EO 13985 USAID Agency Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Submitted February 9, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/Final_Equity_Action_Plan_USAID_word_version_of_plan_submitted_to_DPC.docx.pdf.
  39. “USAID Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan.
  40. “2023 Updated Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Uploaded February 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/2024%20EAP_2023_.pdf.
  41. “2023 LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/policy/lgbtqi.
  42. “LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy.” USAID. July 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/USAID_LGBTQI-Inclusive-Development-Policy_August-2023_1.pdf.
  43. “Inclusive Development.” USAID. October 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/USAID-ID-Hub_ADS-201-AH-Document_Oct-2023_1.pdf.
  44. “Building Bridges in Development.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/policy/strategicreligiousengagement.
  45. “Advancing Gender Equity.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/advancing-gender-equality.
  46. “USAID Equity Action Plan.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/equity/equity-action-plan.
  47. “2023 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/gender-policy.
  48. “FY 2023 Congressional Budget Justification – Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/document/fy-2023-congressional-budget-justification-department-state-foreign-operations-and-related-programs.
  49. “FACT SHEET: Update on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America.” The White House. March 25, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/25/fact-sheet-update-on-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america-3/.
  50. “USAID Announces More Than $450 Million in Development Funding to Address Root Causes of Migration in Central America.” USAID. November 28, 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/nov-28-2023-usaid-announces-more-450-million-development-funding-address-root-causes-migration-central-america.
  51. “United States of America.” IOM. Accessed March 29, 2024. https://www.iom.int/countries/united-states-america.
  52. “Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration Project.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/guatemala/programs/addressing-root-causes-irregular-migration-project.
  53. “International Rescue Committee Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part VIII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/135660870/202312079349301441/full.
  54. “USAID Announces $25 Million to Address the Challenges of Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean.” USAID. November 6, 0223. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/nov-06-2023-usaid-announces-25-million-address-challenges-migration-latin-america-and-caribbean#:~:text=The%20%2425%20million%20to%20the,million%20in%20IDB%20institutional%20funds.
  55. Notheis, Asher. “Gabe Kaminsky and Ben Shapiro discuss Washington Examiner story on Biden funding terrorism-linked group.” Washington Examiner. February 29, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2896041/gabe-kaminsky-ben-shapiro-discuss-washington-examiner-story-biden-funding-terrorism-linked-group/.
  56. “Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Disinformation Primer.” USAID. February 2021. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/Disinformation-Primer.pdf.
  57. “Budget Justification.” USAID. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/cj.
  58.   “Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President’s Budget Request for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).” USAID. September 2023. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/fact-sheets/mar-09-2023-fiscal-year-fy-2024-presidents-budget-request-united-states-agency-international-development-usaid.
  59. “Agency for International Development.” USASpending.gov. Accessed March 30, 2024. https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/agency-for-international-development?fy=2023.
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U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC