United States Agency for International Development

United States Agency for International Development

Seal of USAID
Flag of USAID
Wordmark of USAID
Agency overview
Formed	November 3, 1961 (1961-11-03)
Preceding agency	International Cooperation Administration
Headquarters	Ronald Reagan Building Washington, D.C., U.S.
Motto	"From the American people"
Employees	Over 10,000 (FY 2023)
Annual budget	$40 billion in appropriations (FY 2023 USAID-managed funds)
Agency executive	Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Acting Administrator
Footnotes

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operates as an independent entity within the U.S. government, primarily tasked with managing civilian foreign aid and development support. Founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID was created to consolidate various foreign assistance organizations and programs into a single agency. According to statutory law, USAID functions under the direct authority and policy direction of the Secretary of State.

The agency is involved in a wide range of initiatives, including global health, disaster relief, socioeconomic development, environmental conservation, democratic governance, and education. Since 2001, USAID has disbursed an average of approximately $23 billion annually, making it one of the largest official aid agencies globally. It represents over half of all U.S. foreign assistance, which is the highest in absolute dollar amounts worldwide. Currently, USAID operates missions in more than 100 countries, focusing primarily on regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.