How US aid obligations fell by 65% in 2025

For many years, the development sector relied on the predictability and stability of U.S. aid, but it only took the Trump administration less than a year to change that world order. Although the full picture of aid under President Donald Trump remains fuzzy, data from foreignassistance.gov provides an overview of what’s already been committed so far. And it paints a stark picture. This year, the U.S. obligated around $19.4 billion in economic aid — a broadly equivalent measure to official development assistance, although there are some differences. That’s a 65% drop on the year before. But even this may offer an overly optimistic picture of likely obligations going forward. The U.S. fiscal year runs to the end of September. As we noted in previous analyses, many of the current disbursements and obligations are from the last few months of the Biden administration that still fall within FY 2025, with most of the money coming from the now-defunct USAID. So the amount spent under Trump is likely to be even lower. While it is not possible to build an exact picture, it appears that only small amounts of aid were obligated under the Trump administration in the second half of FY 2025. Another analysis shows that in the last quarter of the fiscal year, only a little over $500 million was obligated. There have been recent signs that the Trump administration is looking to increase obligations. The White House has indicated in budget requests that it still expects to have aid spending in the tens of billions. A number of health agreements have been signed in recent weeks, and the State Department is hiring for a number of aid roles, although it is very unclear exactly how many. Overall, though, the picture remains extremely unclear. This analysis looks specifically at obligations — money committed to aid in the 2025 fiscal year. For those interested in disbursements, that is, money actually spent, please see a previous analysis. All figures in this piece are in 2024 U.S. dollar constant prices. What does the overall data say? Overall, the figures show that the U.S. obligated $19.4 billion in the fiscal year that ended in September 2025. That is 76.4% less than the $82.3 billion obligated in FY 2024. However, as we noted in a previous analysis of U.S. aid disbursements, foreignassistance.gov categorizes activities either as economic aid or military aid, depending on their objective. Economic aid includes all development and humanitarian activities, closely similar to official development assistance, although the latter follows a more rigid reporting guideline. On the other hand, military aid includes security and defense. In this article, we refer to economic aid as development aid. In total, virtually all of the obligated amount in 2025, worth $19.38 billion, is economic aid — a 65% drop from the $55.4 billion obligated in 2024. The remaining $13.3 million is obligated for military aid — a fraction compared to the nearly $27 billion committed in the previous year. The significant drop was likely caused by the government-wide pause on new obligations for both military and foreign assistance, which was instigated by the Trump administration on Jan. 20 through Executive Order 14169, entitled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid.” Of the $19.38 billion obligated for development aid in 2025, 41.6%, or almost $8.1 billion, went to lower-middle-income countries. Another $2.55 billion went to upper-middle-income countries, while $2.46 billion went to low-income countries. The remaining $6.18 billion was obligated for multicountry, regional, and global activities. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765813208837' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Viz - income group ' src='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbyincomegroup&#47;Viz-incomegroup&#47;1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a></noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' /> <param name='embed_code_version' value='3' /> <param name='site_root' value='' /><param name='name' value='U_S_obligationsbyincomegroup&#47;Viz-incomegroup' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbyincomegroup&#47;Viz-incomegroup&#47;1.png' /> <param name='animate_transition' value='yes' /><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' /><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' /><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' /><param name='display_count' value='yes' /><param name='language' value='en-US' /><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' /><param name='device' value='desktop' /><param name='showShareOptions' value='false' /></object></div> <script type='text/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1765813208837'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); </script> <i style=font-style: georgia;”>The U.S. obligated development aid by income group, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Who’s giving aid — and who’s implementing it? About 79.2% of the obligated development aid, worth $15.3 billion, came from the former U.S. Agency for International Development, down from $35.4 billion the year before. This supports our earlier thesis that much of the U.S. government’s obligation in 2025 was actually committed under the Biden administration. The Department of Treasury ranked second, obligating $1.6 billion, down slightly from $2.2 billion the year before. The Department of State, which in July formally took over as the U.S.’ lead agency for foreign cooperation, obligated only $819.1 million, compared to $11.3 billion the year before. Sixteen other government agencies obligated a cumulative development aid of nearly $1.6 billion, down from $6.2 billion the year before. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765807510476' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Viz - managing agency ' src='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbymanagingagency&#47;Viz-managingagency&#47;1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a></noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' /> <param name='embed_code_version' value='3' /> <param name='site_root' value='' /><param name='name' value='U_S_obligationsbymanagingagency&#47;Viz-managingagency' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbymanagingagency&#47;Viz-managingagency&#47;1.png' /> <param name='animate_transition' value='yes' /><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' /><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' /><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' /><param name='display_count' value='yes' /><param name='language' value='en-US' /><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' /><param name='device' value='desktop' /><param name='showShareOptions' value='false' /></object></div> <script type='text/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1765807510476'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); </script> <i style=font-style: georgia;”>The U.S. obligated development aid by managing agency, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Multilaterals emerged as the U.S.’ top implementing partners, with the World Bank Group receiving 17.3% of the total, worth $3.3 billion. The International Development Association also received a sizable sum, worth $1.35 billion, followed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with $1.27 billion, and the World Food Programme, with $517.7 million. Among contractors and nonprofits, Tetra Tech ranked the highest, with $442.1 million. Then DAI, with $302.3 million; Chemonics, with $227.7 million, and Catholic Relief Services, with $166.5 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765813061625' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Viz - implementing partner ' src='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbyimplementingpartner&#47;Viz-implementingpartner&#47;1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a></noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' /> <param name='embed_code_version' value='3' /> <param name='site_root' value='' /><param name='name' value='U_S_obligationsbyimplementingpartner&#47;Viz-implementingpartner' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;U_&#47;U_S_obligationsbyimplementingpartner&#47;Viz-implementingpartner&#47;1.png' /> <param name='animate_transition' value='yes' /><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' /><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' /><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' /><param name='display_count' value='yes' /><param name='language' value='en-US' /><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' /><param name='device' value='desktop' /><param name='showShareOptions' value='false' /></object></div> <script type='text/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1765813061625'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); </script> <i style=font-style: georgia;”>The U.S. obligated development aid by implementing partner, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Where will the money go? More than a quarter of the obligated development aid in 2025, worth $5.2 billion, went to global projects. This is around 60% less than the $13.1 billion obligated in the previous year. Among countries, Ukraine got the largest total obligation, worth $4.8 billion, accounting for 24.8% of the total. This is larger than the combined obligation to the next top 13 countries. Among the activities, $3.3 billion was obligated under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which was passed during the Biden administration. Jordan was the second-largest recipient, with $1.1 billion, of which $825.2 million was budgetary support to its government. The occupied Palestinian territories also received a considerable sum, worth $536 million. Many of these are for humanitarian and emergency assistance. The other top recipients were Ethiopia, with $457.5 million; Micronesia, with $351.9 million; Sudan, with $288.5 million; the Marshall Islands, with $262.1 million; and Nigeria, with $247.1 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765808049679' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Viz - map ' src='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;Ge&#47;GeographicaldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-map&#47;1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a></noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' /> <param name='embed_code_version' value='3' /> <param name='site_root' value='' /><param name='name' value='GeographicaldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-map' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;Ge&#47;GeographicaldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-map&#47;1.png' /> <param name='animate_transition' value='yes' /><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' /><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' /><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' /><param name='display_count' value='yes' /><param name='language' value='en-US' /><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' /><param name='device' value='desktop' /><param name='showShareOptions' value='false' /></object></div> <script type='text/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1765808049679'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); </script> <i style=font-style: georgia;”>Geographical distribution of U.S. obligated development aid, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Meanwhile, the government and civil society sector came up as the priority sector, with $5.3 billion, or 27.4% of the total development aid. However, this represents a 35.5% drop from the previous year, when it received $8.2 billion HIV/AIDS followed among the focus areas, with $2.7 billion. Then emergency response, with $2 billion; basic health, with $990.5 million; and energy, with $789.4 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765812963759' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Viz - sector ' src='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;Se&#47;SectoraldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-sector&#47;1_rss.png' style='border: none' /></a></noscript><object class='tableauViz' style='display:none;'><param name='host_url' value='https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F' /> <param name='embed_code_version' value='3' /> <param name='site_root' value='' /><param name='name' value='SectoraldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-sector' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https:&#47;&#47;public.tableau.com&#47;static&#47;images&#47;Se&#47;SectoraldistributionofU_S_obligations&#47;Viz-sector&#47;1.png' /> <param name='animate_transition' value='yes' /><param name='display_static_image' value='yes' /><param name='display_spinner' value='yes' /><param name='display_overlay' value='yes' /><param name='display_count' value='yes' /><param name='language' value='en-US' /><param name='filter' value='publish=yes' /><param name='device' value='desktop' /><param name='showShareOptions' value='false' /></object></div> <script type='text/javascript'> var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1765812963759'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height=(divElement.offsetWidth*0.75)+'px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); </script> <i style=font-style: georgia;”>Sectoral distribution of U.S. obligated development aid, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free five-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850 sources in addition to our analysis and news content.