Council of Councils
Think Global Health
Diplomacy and International Institutions
Foreign Aid
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The Great Aid Recession: 2025’s Humanitarian Crash in Nine ChartsThe world faces unresolved conflicts, growing climate crises, attacks on aid workers, two famines, and diminishing political will—along with significant aid cuts. Altogether, 2025 has earned a grim new superlative: the worst humanitarian year on record.
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Visualizing 2026: Five Foreign Policy Trends to WatchWhat major trends will shape world events in the year ahead? Five CFR experts weigh in.
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U.S. Aid to Israel in Four ChartsIsrael has long been the leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including military assistance. That aid has come under heightened scrutiny over the course of Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Iran.
Experts in this Topic
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How Much Does the U.S. Fund the United Nations?The United States has historically been the largest donor to the United Nations. However, during his second term, President Trump has reduced U.S. funding, withdrawn from major agencies, and scaled back the country’s involvement in UN initiatives.
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Women This Week: Denmark Issues Apology to Greenland Over Forced SterilizationWelcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers September 6 September 12.
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PEPFAR Has Saved Tens of Millions of Lives. Why Is It at Risk?PEPFAR has long been hailed as a landmark health initiative, earning bipartisan support for its role in combating HIV/AIDS worldwide. However, the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul U.S. foreign aid have threatened the program’s long-term security.
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Here’s How Much Aid the United States Has Sent UkraineTen charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.
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The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William HenaganWilliam Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald Trump’s reforms.
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The Global Fragility Act Is a Model for Cost-Effective Foreign AssistanceThe Global Fragility Act (GFA) serves as a blueprint for smart U.S. funding to prevent and end conflict, and bipartisan congressional leaders advocate reauthorization of the 2019 law.
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Women This Week: Funding Cuts Threaten Lifesaving Work in Crisis ZonesWelcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers May 10 to May 16.
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A Question of FreedomWhen it comes to African development, foreign aid is just the beginning.
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American Views on Economic LeadershipCFR’s RealEcon team traveled across the country to ask Americans what they think of trade, aid, and other international economic policies.
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The History and Future of U.S. Foreign AidPanelists discuss the history of U.S. foreign aid and examine its effectiveness in promoting global stability, fostering economic development, and projecting U.S. soft power worldwide, as well as potential approaches for restructuring the system moving forward. **This is a virtual meeting through Zoom. Log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website. This meeting is presented by RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.
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Women This Week: United States Slashes All Funding for UN Agency Focused on Women and Girls HealthWelcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 1 to March 7.
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Women This Week: Girls Experiencing Significant Rate of Sexual Violence in GuatemalaWelcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers February 15 to February 21.