The State Department announced nearly $2 billion in partnerships with faith-based groups, including World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, and Compassion International.
“This historic announcement is the largest allocation of global health foreign assistance to faith-based organizations in over 20 years,” the State Department said in a media note. “It underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to partnering with organizations that demonstrate faith in action and have proven their ability to deliver health and humanitarian assistance in the world’s most difficult environments.”
From a $1.4 billion award, $850 million will be distributed over five years to support more than 2,500 faith-based hospitals and clinics across 17 countries. The funds will also support more than 30,000 community health workers. Another $570 million will be provided to faith-based entities through Memorandums of Understanding reached with other governments.
The U.S. further intends to provide $538 million to “Samaritan’s Purse and a consortium jointly led by World Vision and Compassion International” as a means of providing life-saving assistance.
The federal government previously used the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an aid program, although a review of assistance programs found widespread misuse. The Trump administration has since folded USAID into the State Department, ending 83% of its programs.
“Foreign assistance done right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships with key allies. Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago. As a result, the gains were too few and the costs were too high,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement at the time.
