The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides vital and lifesaving assistance to people around the world. The Trump administration’s recent actions targeting USAID, including a funding freeze, have had devastating consequences around the world and will have repercussions for many of our Episcopal siblings and Anglican Communion partners, as well as harming Americans.

We urge the U.S. government to continue investments in humanitarian and development assistance, pursue sustainable development initiatives that depend on U.S. commitments, and in particular, not risk losing momentum in areas where so much progress has been made, including global health, food security, and disaster preparedness. 

As Episcopalians, we are called to support and protect the most vulnerable – loving our neighbors as ourselves regardless of nationality. Foreign assistance is less than 1% of the federal budget, and yet we know that investment saves lives. We call upon our leaders to find “the balance between legitimate military security needs and poverty alleviation programs.”

The Episcopal Church recently spoke out in support of foreign aid; join us in writing to your members of Congress today!

 

Additional Resources: 

USAID Office of Inspector General Programs Impacted by Staffing Reductions and Pause on Foreign Assistance

Episcopal Church Support for Foreign Assistance

 

General Convention Resolutions:

2022-A020: Encourage Support of the Sustainable Development Goals

2018-B026: Endorse the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the Basis for Policy and Action

2015-A093: Advocate for Balancing Federal Budget Priorities to Alleviate Poverty

2003-C024: Support Non-violent Foreign Policy

1985-A081: Call on the Government to Increase Foreign Aid to Famine Areas

 

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