In this season of giving, Congress must act to maintain one of the nation’s most powerful gifts: foreign assistance dedicated to preventing and ending violent conflict, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and supporting the displaced. As Proverbs 3:27 teaches us: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act” (NIV).
The need for funding has never been more urgent. Today’s world faces the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II. Every day civilians face the use of indiscriminate weapons, starvation as a tool of warfare, and systematic attacks against entire communities based on identity. The consequence of underfunded foreign assistance is measured in human lives. Families lose access to essential medication. Communities are forced to draw water from contaminated sources. Mothers watch nutrition programs that could save their malnourished children disappear.
Historically, USAID’s Center for Conflict and Violence Prevention worked in over 60 countries, using tools like the Complex Crises Fund and Reconciliation Programs to address conflicts before they turned violent. Now, with USAID dismantled, these life-saving programs stand on the brink of disappearing.
Prevention Is Both Moral and Practical
The cost of inaction is staggering, not just in human suffering, but in dollars and cents. The World Bank has found that every dollar invested in conflict prevention saves between $26 and $103 in the cost of responding to violent conflict. Yet foreign assistance programs that focus on conflict prevention represent just .05% of the Pentagon budget—a modest investment with outsized returns. Prevention isn’t just compassion; it’s a sound policy decision.
Without foreign assistance programs focused on conflict prevention, the United States is left waiting until violence has already taken root. By then, response options are limited to costly military and security interventions. These approaches prioritize short-term order over long-term justice and inclusion, often deepening instability rather than resolving it.
When the United States cuts foreign assistance, the consequences extend beyond immediate crises. An estimated 26 million people risk falling into poverty due to extreme weather every year. Climate change also destabilizes conflict-prone regions, making violence more likely. The solution is clear: invest in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every dollar spent on preparedness saves thirteen dollars later.
As we send and receive holiday greetings of peace on earth and goodwill to all, we must act to ensure they represent more than lines on a card and seasonal sentiments. They are budget line items, and investments the U.S. can make.
Contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect foreign assistance. Use your voice to help those facing violence and hunger. The U.S. cannot afford to abandon the tools that prevent violence, save lives, and build lasting peace on earth.
