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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsForeign policyStarted 11yrs agoActive 2yrs ago

Should the government increase or decrease foreign aid spending?

Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?

Foreign aid is a transfer of financial resources or commodities or technical advice and training. The resources can take the form of grants or concessional credits (e.g., export credits). Foreign aid is used to support US national security and commercial interests and can also be distributed for humanitarian reasons. Aid spending is financed by U.S. taxpayers and distributed through 20 government agencies that manage foreign assistance programs. In 2020 the U.S. distributed $39 billion on economic assistance, $25 billion through the U.S. Agency for International Development and $11.6 billion on military assistance.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 595k America voters.

22%
Increase
65%
Decrease
16%
Increase
53%
Decrease
6%
Increase, but only for countries that have no human rights violations
7%
Decrease, until we drastically reduce our national budget deficit
3%
Decrease, and deny aid to countries that harbor or promote terrorism
2%
Decrease, and we should not give foreign aid to any countries

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 595k America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @cryingleftist from Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

Increase but only if the US gets a say in what the funds are used for. For example, if Nigeria was a country being funded the US should get to say that their funds should not be supporting SARS.

 @8JCJLWV from Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

This is a complicated topic; for example, I read that some foreign aid distorts local industry and development. Much more thought is needed.

 @9MFBRSL from North Carolina  answered…2yrs2Y

Increase only for countries with clear humanitarian needs like Ukraine. Deny aid for countries that harbor or promote terrorism

 @9GWQR8F from Kansas  answered…3yrs3Y

I am satisfied with the current amount of spending, but be more selective on who we give to and how much

 @9GN5KWP from North Carolina  answered…3yrs3Y

Increase for countries with clear humanitarian needs, but deny aid to countries that violate human rights and harbor or promote terrorism

 @9DG83Y5 from Ohio  answered…3yrs3Y

Provide foreign aid to Armenia

 @9FHJ8V6 from California  answered…3yrs3Y

Increase, but only aid those who are in a relationship with the U.S. or are included in NATO or the United Nations.

 @B8NVQ58 from Maryland  answered…7mos7MO

Increase aid to politically stable countries regardless of terrorism and rebels in there territory to help deter their problems

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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iSideWith. (2026). “Should the government increase or decrease foreign aid spending?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/896078005

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