When the world's at stake,
go beyond the headlines.

In 2014, Patrick Cronin wrote “USAID & the National Interest,” where he defended the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from broad criticisms but acknowledged the need for further planning and oversight. In the wake of recent discussions on the role of soft power in U.S. foreign policy, we invited Patrick back to reflect on his article.Read more below:Image: U.S. Embassy New ZealandIn your 2014 article, “USAID & the National Interest,” you cleared up some of the misconceptions surrounding USAID, as the once third highest-ranking official in the agency. Ten years after your original article was written, USAID is now at the forefront of the national conversation. What is the biggest current misconception you’re seeing about the agency, and what is your response to it? Many people mistakenly believe that USAID simply disburses taxpayer-funded foreign aid with little relevance to the United States. In fact, much of USAID’s funding circulates through the U.S. economy. It supports American farmers, businesses, university researchers, and nonprofit organizations before experienced officers deploy these resources in developing regions. This overseas work builds goodwill that enhances economic, military, and diplomatic cooperation.Contrary to popular belief, USAID does not shape U.S. foreign policy; rather, it carries out America’s commitments to developing nations. When President John F. Kennedy created USAID, he envisioned a self-assured, emerging America demonstrating its leadership by assisting the world’s most vulnerable. This generosity was not purely altruistic — it also served a strategic purpose. During the Cold War, as the Soviet Union advanced its influence through arms and ideology, the United States forged alliances through aid and development.Today, USAID operates in fragile states, war zones, and disaster-stricken regions throughout the Global South. I was profoundly moved by what I witnessed firsthand: young boys rescued from the Lord’s Resistance Army, villagers bursting into song after receiving life-saving