What are the benefits of USAID for the United States?

USAID provides multiple strategic advantages for the United States beyond humanitarian aid. It fights disease before it reaches American borders, creates new markets for U.S. goods, and generates goodwill toward America abroad, building unprecedented soft power that has advanced U.S. interests more effectively than military actions, sanctions, or tariffs. The post-World War II generation recognized that helping others represents a valuable investment. The Marshall Plan wasn't implemented out of sympathy for former enemies, but because America needed to develop markets for its exports. This pragmatic approach to foreign aid continues to serve U.S. interests by combining humanitarian assistance with strategic economic and diplomatic benefits.