Abstract
A new survey by the Program for Public Consultation found an overwhelming majority of 89% of Americans say the US should spend at least one percent of the federal budget on foreign aid – the current amount the US spends on aid. This includes 84% of Republicans and 94% of Democrats.
Respondents also evaluated spending on six foreign aid programs. Majorities nationwide want to increase or keep funding the same for humanitarian relief (56%), economic development (56%), global health (64%), education (67%), the environment (65%), and democracy and human rights (60%). Only 8-14% favor eliminating any of the programs.
While a majority of Republicans favor cutting some programs, less than half support making deep cuts (19-30%) or eliminating them (11-20%). Fifty-eight percent oppose abolishing the US Agency for International Development and folding its functions into the State Department, including 77% of Democrats and 62% of independents. But 60% of Republicans favor the move. View Briefing on Foreign Aid Survey Findings and Panel Discussion from Feb. 18 Brookings Event