In 2016, the United States spent approximately $49 billion on foreign aid (or 1.2 percent of the entire budget), according to the Congressional Research Services. Recently, in the Trump administration, the amount of foreign aid America gives has gone down.
Although it is called “foreign aid,” it also provides benefits for people in America. One of the benefits is a stronger economy. By providing aid to other countries, they are able to become more developed. This provides companies with new markets, makes them more competitive and provides more jobs for American workers.
A second benefit is that it promotes national security by fighting poverty and diseases. It has been shown that countries with higher poverty rates are more likely to have environments that influence violence like terrorism. Foreign aid helps countries get individuals out of poverty and creates a less violent environment. Additionally, many deadly diseases have started in underdeveloped countries. By providing medication and other medical needs America is able to contain future disease outbreaks.
America needs to focus more on foreign aid and the key way to do this is by increasing the funding we give to other countries.
Olivia Causse, Sandy
