Most Americans seem to back various types of foreign aid, but a recent survey published Thursday suggests that there’s less enthusiasm for military assistance and funding arts or cultural projects abroad.
According to a new poll from Pew Research Center, a significant number of surveyed US adults believe the government is responsible for providing a substantial amount—83%—of medical supplies and 78% of food and clothing to developing countries.
Around 60% of participants showed approval for economic development initiatives in these countries, with 63% supporting such efforts globally and 61% for broader international goals.
However, support for military aid and cultural activities was notably lower. Almost 40% of respondents felt the US should supply military support and weapons to various military forces worldwide, while only about a third expressed favor for funding cultural activities.
This survey emerges in the context of cuts to foreign aid programs initiated during President Trump’s administration, including moves to limit the US International Development Agency. The recent budget proposal from the White House also hinted at significant reductions in foreign aid.
The survey highlights a partisan divide: Democrats and those identifying as independents tend to favor foreign aid more compared to Republicans or those leaning towards the GOP.
For example, 77% of GOP respondents said the US should provide medical supplies, but support for food and clothing was less robust, sitting at about 68%. Regarding economic development and democracy support, Democrats were nearly 30% more likely to back these initiatives compared to their Republican counterparts.
When it comes to military equipment support, only 30% of Republican respondents agreed with the idea, while 51% of Democrats were in favor. Additionally, support for arts and cultural funding was even lower among GOP voters, with a 15% backing.
The survey was conducted from March 24 to 30, involving 3,605 US adults, and the margin of error stands at 1.9 percentage points.
