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USAID (US Agency for International Development) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for administering foreign aid and economic development assistance outside the US. Its functions include supporting economic growth, global health, and education; providing humanitarian aid in response to crises; and advancing US foreign policy goals through partnerships. It was established in 1961 as part of the Foreign Assistance Act.

In FY 2024,

$21.7B

was spent by the US Agency for International Development
In FY 2024,

0.3%

of federal spending was by the US Agency for International Development

How much does the Agency for International Development spend?

USAID spent $21.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.3% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 19th among federal agencies in total spending.

The US Agency for International Development accounted for 0.3% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of USAID net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, USAID's federal spending has increased from $10.5 billion in 1980 to $21.7 billion in 2024.

The US Agency for International Development’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by USAID, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, USAID's spending has increased 106.4%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.
The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, USAID accounted for 0.3% of all federal spending. That’s 0.045 percentage points higher than 2014 and 0.1 percentage points lower than in 1980.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The US Agency for International Development’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to USAID, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the USAID's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all USAID spending.

How did the US Agency for International Development spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to USAID, FY 2024

Read related content about USAID:

How many people work for the Agency for International Development?

Some 5,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the USAID as of September 2024. This is 42.2% more people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the US Agency for International Development has increased 42.2% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for USAID, September 2010–2024

USAID accounts for 0.2% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. USAID constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.2%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the USAID's share of the workforce (0.2%) is smaller than its share of the budget (0.3%).

Who leads USAID?

USAID is headed by the administrator of the Agency for International Development, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. This position is not a cabinet member but reports to the secretary of state. This appointed position typically ends when the appointee resigns, is replaced, or when a new president assumes office and appoints their own leadership, though some may serve temporarily during transitions between administrations. USAID is an independent agency, meaning it operates within the executive branch but outside the president's cabinet, giving it some level of autonomy.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

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