Tell Congress: Fund humanitarian aid
The future of US humanitarian aid — and the millions who rely on U.S. support — is at critical risk.
Despite extreme needs in places like Gaza, Sudan, and Afghanistan, the US government continues to slow walk humanitarian assistance. The Administration must change course and scale up U.S. humanitarian programs to meet these urgent challenges.
Right now is a critical window for the House and Senate to set humanitarian and development funding priorities for the year ahead. The government has until January 30th to finalize funding levels for the coming year, including critical funding for US foreign aid.
Tell Congress to push the Administration to scale up its responses to humanitarian crises and to stand up for U.S. investment in foreign assistance. Send a letter to your representatives in Congress now!
Here is the letter we will send to Congress on your behalf:
Dear Member of Congress,
As your constituent and supporter of Mercy Corps, I ask you to fight to ensure that available humanitarian resources are immediately utilized to meet mounting global needs and US humanitarian and development capability is maintained and deployed through robust FY26 funding. Following the government shutdown, now is a key moment for Congress to stand up for US foreign assistance capacity and effectiveness and global leadership.
The Administration currently has more than $6 billion in humanitarian funding that Congress provided for emergency responses that are not being spent. Failing to disburse funding to existing programs in a timely manner and choosing not to provide new funding in humanitarian emergencies such as Sudan, Colombia, and DRC risks lives lost now, and drives increased humanitarian needs down the line. Now is a critical time to press the Administration to follow Congressional intent and spend this urgently needed funding to improve food security and humanitarian response around the world. Contact the State Department and OMB to actively disperse existing resources in response to intensifying crises around the world.
At the same time, a bipartisan, bicameral appropriations agreement for US foreign assistance in FY26 remains unresolved. The government has until January 30th to finalize humanitarian and development funding levels and policy priorities for the year ahead.
Given the recent rescission of more than $12 billion in US funding, it is essential to set a clear path for the future US foreign assistance and chart a course forward on Congressionally authorized programs. It is more important than ever for Congress to establish clear and robust humanitarian and development funding priorities in the final FY26 SFOPS bill and ensure that the Administration spends the funding in line with Congressional intent.
US foreign assistance is essential to the safety, security and prosperity of the United States and a vital foreign policy tool. Congress must continue the longstanding bipartisan support for humanitarian and development response and stand up to protect American global leadership.
Thank you for your continued attention.
Sincerely,