Restoring Congressional Power to Enable Effective U.S. Foreign Assistance

September 30 marked the end of the fiscal year. With it came the deadline to spend billions of dollars in congressionally appropriated funding for foreign assistance programs, including global health, economic development, peacebuilding, and support for United Nations agencies. While much of these funds were spent before expiration, a last-minute flurry of spending leaves questions about where the money ended up and why spending was held off until the deadline. Congress needs to ensure future foreign aid dollars are spent responsibly and effectively.