What did the US spend on aid in 2025?
Although still significant, the U.S. government's disbursements in fiscal year 2025 were half its spending in the previous year.
As soon as he stepped into the White House, President Donald Trump began a program to undo decades of development and humanitarian work championed by his predecessors from both the Democratic and Republican parties. One of his first executive orders was to put a hold on all foreign development assistance. In the months since then, the former U.S. Agency for International Development, which for decades had become a symbol of global development, was dismantled, and many humanitarian programs were hastily ended with no regard for how it would impact the lives of tens of millions of people across the globe who depend on American aid. But in the last financial year, the U.S. still spent very significant sums on aid. Based on the latest data from foreignassistance.gov, the U.S. disbursed $32.5 billion on foreign aid in 2025. That’s far less than its $68 billion spending in 2024, but still enough to make the U.S. one of the world’s largest aid funders. It’s also a number that could grow. While the U.S. financial year is over, it’s still possible that new disbursements could be recorded for 2025. Foreignassistance.gov updates its website regularly. We will update this article when new information becomes available. How much of this money was spent under Trump? The U.S. financial year runs from October to September, so much of this money was likely disbursed under the Biden administration, which held power for the first four months of the fiscal year. It’s not possible, given the information on the site, to definitively identify when money was spent. However, there are clues. For example, we can see that the majority of the spending was disbursed by USAID, which was effectively shuttered in the first half of the fiscal year. And we can cross-reference disbursements — the subject of this piece — with obligations. This year, we see that the Department of State obligated less than $1 billion in new development-related spending, compared to $11.4 billion last year, suggesting that much of its spending is likely on legacy projects, and it is originating few new ones. How much was spent on development? Foreignassistance.gov categorizes foreign activities into two categories based on their objective: economic and military. Economic aid includes all development and humanitarian activities, and is close to what the U.S. reports to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as official development assistance. The difference in figures comes from specific inclusions and exclusions, such as debt forgiveness and peacekeeping assistance. It also includes all country recipients, unlike in ODA, which only counts aid to low- and middle-income recipients. The other classification is military aid, which is largely for security and defense. In this article, we refer to all nonmilitary spending as development aid, but it should not be equated with ODA. Overall, the U.S. spent virtually all its foreign assistance on development, worth almost $32.2 billion. The remaining $265.1 million went to military aid. About 38.9% of the $32.2 billion economic aid, worth $12.5 billion, went to global, regional, or multicountry projects. Nearly a third, worth $10.5 billion, went to lower-middle-income countries, $5.8 billion to low-income countries, and $3.3 billion to upper-middle-income countries. The remaining $115.6 million went to high-income countries. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765169402373' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Aid by income group ' src='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbyincomegroup/Aidbyincomegroup/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='USaiddisbursementbyincomegroup/Aidbyincomegroup' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbyincomegroup/Aidbyincomegroup/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('viz1765169402373'); 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;”>U.S. aid disbursement in 2025 by income group, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Which agencies fund development? Nearly 70% of U.S. development aid in 2025, worth $22.2 billion, came from what remains of USAID. The Department of State ranked second among disbursing agencies, with $5.9 billion. The Department of the Treasury, which oversees the partnership with multilateral banks and global funds, disbursed a little over $1.6 billion. The other top spenders included the Millennium Challenge Corporation, with $534.8 million, the Department of the Interior, with $521.2 million, and the Department of Health and Human Services, with $423.8 million. Eleven other U.S. government agencies spent a total of $897.5 million on development. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765169542413' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Aid by managing agency ' src='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbymanagingagency/Aidbymanagingagency/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='USaiddisbursementbymanagingagency/Aidbymanagingagency' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbymanagingagency/Aidbymanagingagency/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('viz1765169542413'); 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;”>U.S. aid disbursement in 2025 by managing agency, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Who implements US foreign activities? About 13.7% of the total development aid, worth $4.4 billion, is implemented by USAID. Multilaterals followed, with the World Bank Group raking in $3.4 billion. The World Food Programme ranked next, with $1.4 billion, then the International Development Association, with $1.38 billion, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with $1.3 billion. Several contractors and nonprofits that we reported to have been hit hard by USAID cuts were still among the U.S.’s lead implementers. This included Chemonics, which emerged as the top partner, with $435.3 million, 1.4% of the total development aid. DAI followed, with $384.4 million, Catholic Relief Services, with $307.8 million, RTI International, with $169.5 million, FHI 360, with $147.9 million, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with $144.2 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765170499623' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Aid by implementing partners ' src='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbyimplementingpartner/Aidbyimplementingpartners/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='USaiddisbursementbyimplementingpartner/Aidbyimplementingpartners' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/US/USaiddisbursementbyimplementingpartner/Aidbyimplementingpartners/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('viz1765170499623'); 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;”>U.S. aid disbursement in 2025 by implementing partner, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Where is the money going? Nearly a third of the total development aid in 2025, worth $10.5 billion, went to global projects. Among countries, Ukraine received the largest total disbursement, worth $5.3 billion, or 16.5% of the total development aid. Among these activities is a $3.4 billion disbursement under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act passed during the Biden administration. Jordan ranked next, with $1.1 billion, of which $706.4 million was budgetary support to its government. Ethiopia also got a sizable aid, worth $638.8 million. Unlike the other top two recipients, there was no single large grant award to Ethiopia; rather, the activities were spread across a range of sectors, primarily emergency assistance and food aid. The other top recipient countries were the Democratic Republic of Congo, with $580.2 million, Nigeria, with $551 million, Sudan, with $516.6 million, Kenya, with $426.7 million, and the occupied Palestinian territories, with $416.1 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765169648982' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Aid recipients ' src='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/7F/7FX27234Z/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='path' value='shared/7FX27234Z' /> <param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/7F/7FX27234Z/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('viz1765169648982'); 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. aid in 2025, based on foreignassistance.gov</i> Sectorally, the government and civil society sector was the primary focus area in 2025, receiving $6.5 billion, or 20.2% of the total development aid. Emergency response closely followed, with $6.2 billion. Then HIV/AIDS, with $5.5 billion, basic health, with $1.6 billion, and maternal and child health and family planning, with $974.5 million. <div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1765170280005' style='position: relative'><noscript><a href='#'><img alt='Sectors ' src='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/Se/SectoraldistributionofUSaid/Sectors/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='SectoraldistributionofUSaid/Sectors' /><param name='tabs' value='no' /><param name='toolbar' value='yes' /><param name='static_image' value='https://public.tableau.com/static/images/Se/SectoraldistributionofUSaid/Sectors/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('viz1765170280005'); 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;”>U.S. aid disbursement in 2025 by implementing partner, 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.
As soon as he stepped into the White House, President Donald Trump began a program to undo decades of development and humanitarian work championed by his predecessors from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
One of his first executive orders was to put a hold on all foreign development assistance.
In the months since then, the former U.S. Agency for International Development, which for decades had become a symbol of global development, was dismantled, and many humanitarian programs were hastily ended with no regard for how it would impact the lives of tens of millions of people across the globe who depend on American aid.
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Miguel Tamonan is a Senior Development Analyst at Devex, where he analyzes data from public and private donors to produce content and special reports for Pro and Pro Funding readers. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a Major in International Relations from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
