IndexBackgroundUnderlying CausesPolicy OptionsSolutionForeign aid is an important international public policy because it determines how much aid can be offered to less developed countries, as well as providing linkages to countries. What makes it so important to the United States is that aid carries a lot of weight because it is used for strategic, economic, and moral reasons (Countries Set to Receive the Most Foreign Aid from the United States, 2016). This is part of the argument for increasing the amount the United States spends on foreign aid, but for what seems like a great good there are also many problems with the foreign aid that is provided. This issue involves the provision of money or different types of aid that only support the donor country or the money is given to corrupt governments that do not properly disperse the types of aid provided (Foreign Aid Development Assistance, 2014). Furthermore, in an attempt to cut the budget, foreign aid is on top of the chopping block to cut the already small amount in terms of the actual budget that is given (Foreign Aid: The Good and Bad, 2011). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay ContextThe first U.S. aid program originated after World War II and was created by Secretary of State George Marshall to help Europe rebuild its infrastructure, strengthening the economy, and stabilizing the region (Foreign Assistance, 2016). The next big change for foreign aid came when President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law and created the United States Agency for International Development. This act created a large increase in foreign aid, and the United States Agency for International Development became the first U.S. foreign aid agency to focus on long-term global development (Foreign Assistance, 2016). Then, in 2010, President Obama signed the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development that established specific terms on how foreign aid should be handled by all agencies involved in foreign affairs (Foreign Assistance, 2016). This directive was a great help for foreign aid as it was considered to cut the budget and because if aid is not monitored, much of it will be spent where it is not supposed to or corrupt governments will take the aid without spreading it. as mentioned above. Furthermore, aid spending is starting to be monitored more carefully, since the main objective, at least for underdeveloped countries, is to stimulate and improve the economy, as well as to push trade so that those living in poverty can slowly emerge from it (Foreign Aid: The good and the bad, 2011). Underlying Causes For starters, not all foreign aid used is beneficial to the countries receiving it, for example in Indonesia the money is used to fight deforestation, but this hurts farmers because they are replacing trees with agriculture which stimulates growth. economy and, in turn, helps the country as a whole (Foreign Aid: the good and bad, 2011). In addition to aid being spent on the wrong things in some countries, the United States has been noted as one of the stingiest countries in terms of aid to developing countries which in theory should be where aid goes the most and this comes mainly from United States, Don't Pay Dues to the United Nations (Foreign Aid Development Assistance, 2014). Furthermore, the United States uses much of its foreign aid for national security reasons, directing it towards Middle East countries.