Foreign Assistance Act (FAA, 1961)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (22 U.S.C. § 2151 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The FAA was enacted to reorganize U.S. foreign aid programs and establish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It separated military and non-military aid and created a framework for economic and humanitarian assistance.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Prior aid programs like the Marshall Plan were temporary. The FAA created a permanent structure for U.S. foreign assistance tied to Cold War strategy and international development.

4) Overreach or Proper Role?
Supporters see it as vital for diplomacy, development, and national security. Critics argue it fosters dependency, enables corruption abroad, and sometimes advances U.S. political interests over humanitarian goals.

5) Who or What It Controls

• USAID (primary civilian foreign aid agency)
• State Department (coordinates with foreign policy)
• Foreign governments and NGOs (recipients of aid funding)
• U.S. taxpayers (fund the programs)

6) Key Sections / Citations

• 22 U.S.C. § 2151: Congressional statement of purpose
• 22 U.S.C. § 2301: Military assistance provisions
• 22 U.S.C. § 2395: Authority for appropriations

7) Recent Changes or Live Controversies

• Continues to fund global health, disaster relief, democracy promotion, and development
• Debates about foreign aid effectiveness, corruption, and accountability
• Used in discussions of U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Middle East, and Africa

8) Official Sources

• Congress.gov – FAA 1961
• USAID – About the Foreign Assistance Act
• U.S. Code – 22 U.S.C. § 2151 et seq.

• Foreign Policy
• Foreign Aid
• Development
• Military Assistance
• Diplomacy