To meet the moment, Oxfam Sisters on the Planet® Ambassadors, Action Network volunteers, and Leadership Council members gathered in Washington D.C. from September 16th to 17th for a foreign aid advocacy event. Day one grounded participants in the state of US humanitarian aid and development funding, and Action Network activists received training on organizing and power-building skills to strengthen the fight for an equal future in their communities. Staff gave an overview of how humanitarian and development assistance has been cut and dismantled, what may happen in the future, and what is at stake if funding is not restored to essential resources and institutions. Panels and discussions led by Oxfam staff equipped advocates with crucial knowledge and allowed them to engage with the necessary content to take on a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill.

In meetings with Congressional staff and Members on Capitol Hill, Oxfam staff and volunteers emphasized several key asks:

• Congress must support lifesaving investments in humanitarian and development assistance at the highest possible level and oppose even more draconian cuts in FY26 appropriations.
• There must be specific language in the bill to make sure appropriated funding actually gets spent and there is no allowance for the administration to impound or unduly rescind such funding.
• Co-sponsor the “Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act,” bipartisan, bicameral legislation to prevent the destruction and waste of foreign assistance commodities— including food, medicine, and medical devices—by ensuring that they are delivered to intended recipients before they spoil or expire.

What’s Happening and What’s at Stake

More than eight months after Executive Order 14169 placed a 90-day pause on US foreign assistance, most programs are still suspended or have ceased to exist. Communities around the world are left behind, vulnerable populations remain in jeopardy, and already Congressionally-allocated US aid has been rescinded in an unprecedented executive power play.

UN estimates from a recently released report suggest that by early June, avoidable deaths of 104,382 adults and 217,808 children had resulted from USAID’s abrupt withdrawal of services. The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food wrote, “The abrupt and chaotic termination of funding has disproportionately harmed people living in poverty, cutting off access to essential services at a time of heightened global vulnerability.”

Stories of the global impacts of aid cuts helped tie narratives to the numbers for congressional offices. Pia Flores, founder of Guatemalan independent medium Quorum, lost $20,000 from USAID that funded participatory journalism implementation and promoted issues of climate justice in a restricted media environment. Projects in Burkina Faso supporting clean water access, community health, and mental health support have been weakened. Sara Savva, deputy director of the second largest provider of humanitarian aid to Syrian families and Iraqi refugees residing in Syria, shared that the pulled funding has forced them to close six community centers and cease support for Iraqi refugees.

In addition, US funding for international finance institutions is under threat, with the International Development Association, the African Development Fund, and the Asian Development Fund being zeroed out in the proposed FY26 House appropriations. These funds are crucial for the world's poorest countries to invest in their people and development goals, helping to finance basic healthcare, education, sanitation, and infrastructure. Funding suspensions and rescissions are devastating decades of progress. The approaching end of the fiscal year demanded a final advocacy push for Congress to adequately fund the US's aid commitments and to pressure the administration to rebuild foreign assistance infrastructure.

Observations and Reflections from Advocacy Day

Oxfam delegations spanned seven different states, securing almost 30 meetings on one of the busiest weeks of the year. Offices were enthusiastic about our asks and were happy to hear about the bipartisan status of the Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act in the Senate. Many offices had not even heard of the legislation, making Oxfam a key voice in bringing it to their attention and elevating our advocacy’s impact and influence.

I was able to participate in some of the meetings on the Hill and was in constant awe of our advocates. Each Action Network member, Sister, and Councilmember brought their own experience with humanitarian and development assistance to conversations, adding a personal touch to their activism. From former State Department employees to political trailblazers to graduate students, it was inspiring to be in a group of dedicated, knowledgeable individuals who made time to fight for the future of US aid. Months of logistics and planning culminated in success, setting the stage for future actions and results.

At a time when the political sphere is uncertain and chaotic, everyone agreed this event was a much-needed, meaningful, and tangible action. Participants felt energized and refreshed by the event, ready to continue the fight for a more equal future. The fly-in was a beautiful example of collective action’s potential to push change forward. Oxfam’s mission to eliminate inequality for all is at the root of this work. We will continue to put pressure on people in power to end the cuts, hold the administration to appropriations directives, and make sure lifesaving aid is delivered to the vulnerable populations that need it most.

Ready to take action yourself? Click here to take action against humanitarian and development aid cuts like our volunteers did recently in Washington or join activists across the country as a member of Oxfam’s Action Network for an Equal Future.