The President’s Inbox The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William Henagan
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Jul 15, 2025 
William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the shifts in U.S. foreign aid following Trump’s reforms. He highlights a potential $20 billion decline in aid and the importance of programs like PEPFAR in combating diseases. The conversation critiques the rise of effective altruism and its risks to U.S. competitiveness against China. Henagan also explores the U.S. Development Finance Corporation's role in promoting investments and warns about the implications of weakened humanitarian support on national security.
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Trump's Disruption of U.S. Foreign Aid
- U.S. foreign aid includes military, humanitarian, and development assistance, with USAID as a major player.
- The Trump administration initially halted and then sought to rescind much foreign aid, impacting these programs heavily.
Massive Cuts to Foreign Aid Expected
- U.S. foreign aid spending of about $23 billion annually has nearly stopped where agencies halted work.
- This represents a significant drop in America's global development assistance over the next fiscal year.
Public Support Divides on Foreign Aid
- Global health programs like PEPFAR are widely supported as effective foreign aid.
- Yet, many Americans are indifferent or disapprove of ending broader aid programs like USAID.