Fact Check: The U.S. disbursed $65 billion in foreign assistance last year.

Fact Check: "The U.S. disbursed $65 billion in foreign assistance last year."

What We Know

The claim that the U.S. disbursed $65 billion in foreign assistance in the last year is inaccurate. According to the U.S. Department of State, the actual amount disbursed in Fiscal Year 2022 was approximately $11 billion. This figure represents the total foreign assistance programs managed by the Department of State and USAID, which aim to foster economic growth and development in various countries.

Additionally, data from ForeignAssistance.gov corroborates this figure, indicating that the U.S. government provides detailed financial data regarding its foreign assistance efforts. The site serves as a central resource for budgetary and financial data produced by U.S. government agencies that manage foreign assistance portfolios.

Analysis

The claim of $65 billion appears to be a significant overestimation. The U.S. Department of State's report clearly states that the disbursed amount for FY 2022 was around $11 billion, which is a fraction of the claimed figure. The discrepancy may arise from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the total foreign assistance budget, which can include various forms of aid, loans, and other financial commitments that are not directly disbursed in cash.

Furthermore, a literature review published by the Department of State emphasizes the importance of accurately assessing foreign aid's impact and accountability, reinforcing the significance of the reported figures. The review highlights that while foreign aid can be substantial, the actual disbursement figures are much lower than the claim suggests.

The sources used in this analysis are credible and authoritative, coming directly from U.S. government publications and official data repositories. The reliability of these sources is high, as they are maintained by government agencies responsible for foreign assistance.

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that the U.S. disbursed $65 billion in foreign assistance last year is incorrect. The actual amount disbursed in FY 2022 was approximately $11 billion, as reported by the U.S. Department of State and corroborated by data from ForeignAssistance.gov. This significant discrepancy indicates a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the foreign assistance budget.

Sources

1. ForeignAssistance.gov - Dashboard
2. U.S. Foreign Assistance
3. PDF Appendix D FY 2022 FA Actual - U.S. Department of State
4. ForeignAssistance.gov - By Country
5. Literature Review about the Relationship between Foreign Aid and Economic Growth
6. United States foreign aid - Wikipedia
7. What the data says about US foreign aid | Pew Research Center