‘Wasted On Corruption’: Majority Of Americans Are Against US Foreign Aid Programs

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A Financial Times survey published in February found that 60% of respondents believed funding set aside for humanitarian aid is “wasted on corruption or administrative fees.”

The survey comes amid growing negative sentiment toward excessive spending under previous administrations, particularly by agencies working on so-called “international development.” FT found most respondents felt that taxpayer money sent abroad never reaches people in need. (RELATED: Trump Keeps Campaign Promises With YUGE Tax Overhaul)

“The American public support the principles of aid but they’re just not convinced it has been used effectively,” said Carly Munnelly, head of Public First’s US practice, who conducted the poll for FT. “Across the board, they tend to overestimate how much the US spends on aid, feel that other wealthy countries aren’t providing their fair share, and think too much is lost to waste and corruption.”

Reporting On Gov. Agency Spending

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is spearheading efforts to reveal and cut a large number of foreign aid programs, amongst others, as directed by the Trump administration. (BIG NEWS: Wisconsin Voters Can Change Their Lives In Feb & April: What You Need To Know)

Outcry has largely been focused on USAID, which has reportedly wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on overpriced social programs in foreign countries, according to DCNF. “It’s a completely unresponsive agency. It’s supposed to respond to policy directives with the State Department, and it refuses to do so,” Sec. of State Marco Rubio said in early Feb. “Every dollar we spend and every program we fund, that program will be aligned with the national interest of the United States. USAID has a history of sort of ignoring that.”

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