The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an independent federal agency under the direction of the secretary of state and operating with less than half of 1 percent of the federal budget, provides assistance to various countries, identified as poor and developing, located in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia that are undergoing both natural and human-made disasters. USAID's purpose in assisting these regions is to further "America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets," and "improve the lives of the citizens of the developing world." Unfortunately, the State Department has used USAID disaster assistance to advance foreign policy goals through a variety of means, including "punishing enemies by its denial of relief." However, most nations make humanitarian decisions based on how their political interests will be furthered.

In addition to USAID, the U.S. Department of Agriculture also provides food aid to poor nations consisting of wheat, rice, soybean products, and milk powder. According to the Bureau for Humanitarian Response, a U.S. Agency for International Development with its headquarters in Washington, D.C., reports that 70 percent of the funds spent on U.S. food assistance activities is spent in the United States. Nonetheless, funds that the U.S. government provides are significant. For example, in response to a drought in Central America, which has affected Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala, America will provide $84.5 million in food aid.

When aiding poor nations, the U.S. government distributes its aid through nongovernment organizations such as the United Nations. Additionally, various faith-based domestic organizations distribute aid provided by the United States. For example, U.S. Catholic bishops founded the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), based in Baltimore, Md., in 1943 to help the poor and disadvantaged outside the country. . .