June 30, 2026
A year after the Trump administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development, most Americans still support foreign aid to provide disaster relief, prevent disease outbreaks and improve security, according to a new poll commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation and released Tuesday.
The poll of 2,022 voters showed Republicans and President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again base were sceptical of foreign aid before getting more details.
Nearly all Americans overestimated by far how much Washington spent on such programmes, with over a third thinking they accounted for 20% of the annual US budget.
When told that foreign aid accounted for just 1% of the US budget before 2025 and briefed on what it accomplished, Americans' support grew to 70% from 54%, the poll showed. Republican support reached 58%, and even MAGA Republicans, defined as those who primarily support Trump over the party, backed aid by 50%, the foundation said.
