Fact check: How does Biden's foreign aid spending compare to previous administrations?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Biden's foreign aid spending represents a significant increase compared to the Trump administration. The data shows that USAID funding doubled from $20.5 billion in 2017 to $42.4 billion in 2023 ^{[1] [2]}. Additionally, Biden's first foreign affairs budget proposed a 17% increase in foreign aid compared to Trump's FY21 request ^[3].

Total U.S. foreign aid spending reached $71.9 billion in fiscal 2023, representing 1.2% of total federal outlays ^[4]. This substantial increase occurred after the Trump administration had made significant cuts to foreign aid programs, including canceling 83% of USAID contracts ^[5].

Biden issued an executive order to reevaluate and realign United States foreign aid, indicating a strategic shift in approach compared to previous administrations ^[6]. The budget also increased funding specifically for democracy and human rights programs ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual factors missing from the original question:

• The Trump administration actively sought to shut down USAID entirely, with President Trump calling USAID 'radical lunatics' ^[1]. This provides crucial context for understanding the dramatic funding increases under Biden.
• Public perception of foreign aid spending is significantly distorted - many Americans overestimate the amount spent on foreign aid and actually support increased spending when properly informed ^[5].
• Foreign aid encompasses multiple categories including humanitarian assistance, development assistance, and security assistance ^[4], but the analyses don't break down how Biden's allocation across these categories compares to previous administrations.
• The comparison lacks historical context beyond the Trump administration - there's no data comparing Biden's spending to Obama, Bush, or earlier administrations to provide a broader historical perspective.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual, simply asking for a comparison. However, the sources reveal potential bias in how this topic is often framed:

• One source characterizes USAID spending as having 'insane priorities' ^[1], suggesting a politically charged perspective on foreign aid effectiveness.
• The framing of foreign aid as controversial may be misleading, as the analyses indicate that foreign aid is actually more popular among Americans than commonly believed ^[5].
• The question doesn't acknowledge the dramatic policy reversals between administrations - the Trump administration's attempts to eliminate foreign aid programs entirely versus Biden's substantial increases represent fundamentally different approaches rather than mere spending adjustments.

The analyses suggest that organizations and individuals who benefit from reduced government spending or isolationist policies would benefit from portraying increased foreign aid as wasteful, while international development organizations, humanitarian groups, and countries receiving aid would benefit from increased spending.