Key facts
- A poll commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation shows most Americans support foreign aid.
- Support for foreign aid increased from 54% to 70% after voters were briefed on its impact and budget allocation.
- Republicans' support for foreign aid reached 58%, and 50% of MAGA Republicans backed it.
- The poll found that 78% of surveyed voters favored maintaining or expanding foreign aid outlays.
- The Trump administration ordered the closure of USAID upon taking office in January 2025.
A year after the Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a new poll indicates that a majority of Americans still support foreign development aid. The poll, commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation and conducted by Echelon Insights, surveyed 2,022 voters between June 12-16.
Before receiving details about foreign aid's impact and budget allocation, many Americans, particularly Republicans and supporters of President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" base, were skeptical. A significant portion overestimated the amount spent on foreign aid, with over a third believing it constituted 20% of the annual U.S. budget. However, when informed that foreign aid accounted for just 1% of the budget and briefed on its accomplishments, support grew substantially.
Overall support for foreign aid increased to 70% from an initial 54%. Among Republicans, support reached 58%, and even among MAGA Republicans, backing rose to 50%. The poll revealed that 78% of those surveyed favored maintaining or expanding foreign aid outlays. John Gans, a project lead at The Rockefeller Foundation, stated that the data refutes claims of Americans losing interest in global engagement.
The poll also highlighted a significant shift in opinion regarding specific programs. For instance, support for restoring aid to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo rose to 62% from 24% after voters were provided with more data, including expert views linking U.S. funding cuts to the disease's rapid spread. MAGA voters supported this view by 52% to 34%. The Trump administration has since requested over $1.4 billion in new funds from Congress to address the outbreak.
When voters were asked about specific programs like disease prevention and peacekeeping, support increased, with 80% favoring reforms and better safeguards rather than outright cancellation. Only 12% of respondents believed foreign aid should be cut across the board.