Tell Congress: Reject cuts to life-saving aid
The future of U.S. humanitarian aid and the millions who rely on it is at risk.
The U.S. Administration has proposed major cuts to international funding in the FY27 budget, including food aid, disaster relief, and global development. If approved, these cuts would slash the international affairs budget by 30 percent, weakening U.S. leadership and putting vulnerable communities at risk.
These cuts come as global needs surge. An estimated 318 million people already face acute hunger, and 45 million more could fall into crisis this year.
Right now, Congress is setting funding priorities for the year ahead. Lawmakers can reject these cuts and protect life-saving programs.
Tell Congress to defend critical humanitarian funding. They need to hear from you now - send a letter to your representatives today.
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 maintain robust Congressional support for U.S. foreign assistance programs as Congress develops the FY27 appropriations bills, rejecting the draconian cuts proposed in the Presidential Budget Request.
The proposed cuts would make the U.S. less strong, less safe, and less prosperous while also devastating communities around the world. If all Administration proposals are accepted, these cuts would slash international affairs funding by 30%.
U.S. foreign assistance programs save lives and build a safe and more secure future for all. An estimated 239 million people around the world were expected to face urgent humanitarian needs over the course of this year – a number that will only grow as a result on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its ripple effects on global supply chains, food prices, and food availability.
At less than 1% of the budget, U.S. investments in durable development solutions and emergency humanitarian response are vital to supporting communities around the world and ensure the safety, security and prosperity of the United States.
U.S. foreign assistance is funded by three key accounts that provide the majority of U.S. humanitarian and development programming:
- The humanitarian focused International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) and Food for Peace Title II accounts provide critical lifesaving and emergency humanitarian and food assistance to millions of people affected by conflict, insecurity, natural disasters, and sudden onset emergencies. Resources for these accounts are vital not only to supporting vulnerable communities during emergencies but also to building on emergency relief through early recovery and resilience-building efforts. To maintain U.S. leadership investing in lasting change through foreign assistance, these accounts should be funded at no less than:
- IHA: $6.817 billion
- Food for Peace: $1.5 billion
- The National Security Investment Programs (NSIP) account addresses the compounding challenges of conflict, poverty, and other shocks, by supporting economic development, agriculture investments, water security, and social stability in countries of strategic U.S. interest. These programs are critical, as communities globally continue to be affected by recurring and increasingly extreme crises, making it neither strategic nor sustainable to only respond to emergency needs. We must also invest in long-term sustainable development and resilience measures, which are crucial to helping reduce the aid dependence of vulnerable communities. To achieve these goals and help lessen future humanitarian needs, NSIP should be funded at no less than $6.89 billion.
With Congress’ Constitutional “power of the purse,” you are uniquely positioned in this moment to ensure the U.S. government retains expertise, capacity, and funding to effectively implement foreign assistance and support communities in need around the world.
It is critical that Congress rejects the Administration’s request and works to ensure that the International Affairs budget is fully funded.
To meet today’s global challenges, it is essential to maintain longstanding bipartisan support for U.S. global leadership to address both global emergency needs and support longer-term, durable development solutions. Congress must exercise its authority to direct spending and ensure that funds it provides reach those people most in need, while remaining accountable to the American people.
Sincerely,