Trump Promised To End Foreign Aid. Now He's Giving Christian Groups Nearly $2 Billion.

The Trump administration has directed nearly $2 billion in humanitarian funding toward faith-based organizations, marking a sharp departure from the president’s earlier pledge to eliminate foreign aid. The announcement came amid ongoing discussions about the future of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which faces potential restructuring under the current administration. Despite the rhetoric against foreign aid, the funds will flow primarily to Christian groups, with three major organizations, World Vision, Compassion International, and Samaritan's Purse, set to receive the bulk of the allocations. The $2 billion in funding includes $1.4 billion allocated through the America First Global Health Strategy, a program designed to prioritize country-specific grants. Of the total, $850 million will be distributed to a World Vision-led consortium, $570 million to faith and community-based health facilities via foreign governments, $300 million to Samaritan's Purse, and $238 million to a joint effort involving World Vision and Compassion International. These figures represent one of the largest allocations of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations in over two decades, according to the State Department. Samaritan's Purse, which will receive its share over a two-year period, identifies itself as an evangelical Christian organization dedicated to providing both spiritual and physical aid. Its mission emphasizes spreading God's love through Jesus Christ and promoting the Gospel globally. The group has previously received substantial federal funding, including $90 million from USAID between 2021 and 2025, as documented by the Brookings Institution. However, it has also drawn scrutiny due to its stances on social issues. The organization mandates that its employees oppose same-sex marriage, and its CEO, Rev. Franklin Graham, has made controversial remarks regarding LGBTQ+ rights and Islam. Graham has expressed concerns about Muslim immigration, stating that “every Muslim that comes into this country has the potential to be radicalized.” He has also supported former President Donald Trump, even defending him after the creation of an AI-generated image portraying Trump as Jesus. In addition, Graham has aligned with Trump on other contentious issues, such as the portrayal of the president as a divine figure. Samaritan's Purse’s “Operation Christmas Child” initiative, which distributes shoeboxes containing gifts to impoverished children around the world, has sparked debate. Critics argue that the program sends Christian missionary materials to Muslim-majority regions, aiming to convert young recipients. While the charity claims that some children have embraced Christianity after receiving the boxes, others have raised concerns about the potential for proselytization. In 2025, the watchdog organization MinistryWatch downgraded Samaritan's Purse from “Give with Caution” to “Withhold Giving,” citing the group’s decision to leave the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The move followed allegations that Samaritan's Purse failed to meet board composition guidelines, raising questions about transparency and accountability. Both World Vision and Compassion International describe themselves as Christian charities focused on partnering with local churches and leaders to address poverty and promote spiritual growth. World Vision aims to strengthen local churches to foster long-term change, while Compassion International works with local congregations to introduce vulnerable children to Jesus. Although these organizations offer essential services, the decision to funnel public funds exclusively to religious entities has sparked controversy. The administration’s push to channel foreign aid through faith-based organizations reflects broader ideological priorities. Through the America First Global Health Strategy, the State Department has emphasized the importance of working with local Nigerian organizations, particularly those rooted in faith and community structures. This approach underscores a growing trend of aligning international aid with religious values, despite the lack of consensus on whether such a strategy benefits global humanitarian efforts. As the funding unfolds, the implications for U.S. foreign policy and the role of religion in international aid remain subjects of intense debate.