To the Editor:

Many Americans hold true that U.S. foreign aid is ineffective and a waste of our taxpayer money. Opinion polls show that a hefty amount of U.S. citizens believe that we spend upwards to 25% of our federal budget on foreign assistance programs. In reality, that number sits steady at around 1%.

This misperception often stems from a misunderstanding of what foreign aid truly entails. There are a plethora of agencies that make up these foreign assistance programs.

June 17, 2026