We are excited to share our new video, “Foreign Aid: Fact & Fiction,” featuring a discussion with Erik Gustafson, a U.S. Army veteran and Executive Director of EPIC. We address recent calls to shut down USAID and examine allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse, explaining how U.S. foreign assistance is regulated by laws like the False Claims Act.

Over the years, you and I have witnessed the tremendous difference that can be made when Americans and Iraqis collaborate—even under seemingly insurmountable circumstances. This spirit of working toward shared interests lies at the heart of relations between nations. From 2014 to 2017, we saw it firsthand with Soccer Salam—an EPIC-led coalition funded by everyday Americans and Iraqis—which delivered emergency aid to over 60,000 displaced Iraqis. We saw it again more recently: with support from USAID through IOM, we launched “I Love Sinjar,” restoring a school, creating crosswalks for people with disabilities, bridging social divides, and amplifying local voices.

Right now, cooperation between the civil societies of the U.S. and Iraq, as well as the institutions that make it possible, is under attack—and we need your help.

To complement the video and support your own advocacy, we’ve prepared a 7-page Q&A about USAID’s origins, legal concerns surrounding current freezes, and how these issues affect vulnerable communities. We believe these resources highlight the vital role foreign assistance can play in fostering peace, development, and stability—not only in Iraq but around the globe.

We encourage you to watch our new video (click here) and explore our Q&A. If you find the information helpful, please share it with your friends, colleagues, and networks. By doing so, we can spread greater understanding of why foreign aid matters—and why many believe it should be protected rather than dismantled.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.