New The co-chairs in The Hill: “A New Path to Leadership for US Foreign Aid”
A bipartisan commission · Launched July 2026

Charting the next chapter of American foreign assistance

Ten former members of Congress and senior officials from across the political spectrum, building a blueprint for a more effective, accountable, and widely supported system of US foreign assistance.

Launch announcement
8 in 10
Americans across the political spectrum say the path forward is to reform and strengthen foreign aid—not eliminate it.
10
Commissioners—former members of Congress and senior officials from both parties.
2027
A forward-looking blueprint for US foreign assistance, to be released next year.
The work ahead

Strengthening foreign assistance as a key pillar of US foreign and national security policy

01

Prioritize American interests

Make hard choices about where the money goes, targeting assistance to causes that clearly advance US interests and keep Americans safe.

02

Innovate how aid is delivered

Identify new ways of delivering assistance that avoid inefficiencies and build self-sufficiency over time.

03

Renew bipartisan support

Recenter bipartisanship around foreign assistance, ensuring aid priorities are built on a strong and durable foundation.

Latest from the Commission

Press Release · July 14, 2026
New Commission Launches to Chart the Next Chapter of Foreign Assistance
The Rockefeller Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, with other partners, announce the launch of the Commission—one year after the US Agency for International Development’s closure.
Op-Ed · The Hill · July 29, 2026
A New Path to Leadership for US Foreign Aid
Co-chairs David Beasley and Ben Cardin on why foreign assistance must be reformed, refocused on US interests, and rebuilt on bipartisan ground.
Convened and supported by
The Rockefeller Foundation The Hilton Foundation The David and Lucile Packard Foundation American Enterprise Institute Brookings Institution
About the Commission

A more effective, accountable, and widely supported system for delivering US assistance

The Commission on the Future of Foreign Assistance was launched in July 2026 by the Rockefeller Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, along with other partners, one year after the closure of the US Agency for International Development and amid historic cuts to aid budgets across donor countries.

Co-chaired by Governor David Beasley and Senator Ben Cardin, the 10-member Commission is composed of former members of Congress and former senior officials from across the political spectrum. It is charged with developing a forward-looking blueprint for US foreign assistance, to be released in 2027.

The American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institution—two think tanks that work across the ideological spectrum—support the independent body’s efforts to identify the reforms needed to strengthen foreign aid as a key pillar of US foreign and national security policy and to secure the widespread public support needed to sustain it.

How we will work

01

Engage with and solicit ideas from Americans of all stripes and walks of life, as well as leaders in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere who are already adjusting to a new era in foreign assistance.

02

Analyze problems with brutal honesty about where programs have fallen short in the past and why foreign aid became so easy to put on the chopping block.

03

Recommend policies that move past partisan gridlock and offer a detailed approach to fundamentally reforming foreign assistance.

Timeline

July 2026
Commission launches; work gets underway.
2026
Listening, engagement, and analysis at home and abroad.
2027
Two reports setting out findings and recommendations.
2027
A forward-looking blueprint for US foreign assistance.
The Commission

Commissioners

Former members of Congress and former senior officials from across the political spectrum, with decades of experience in foreign policy, development, and national security. Select a commissioner to read their full biography.

Co-Chairs

{{ p.name }}
Co-Chair
{{ p.name }}
{{ r }}

{{ p.lead }}

Read full bio

Commissioners

{{ p.name }}
{{ p.name }}
{{ r }}
 Read bio
Public Materials

News & Reports

In the News

Commission Reports

Forthcoming
First Report of the Commission
Findings from the Commission’s engagement and analysis. Details to be announced.
Expected 2027
A Blueprint for US Foreign Assistance
The Commission’s forward-looking blueprint for a more effective, accountable, and widely supported system.
Resources

Selected Readings

Research, polling, and past reform efforts that inform the Commission’s work. Suggested by commissioners and staff; updated as the work proceeds.

{{ r.num }}
{{ r.title }}
{{ r.source }}

{{ r.note }}
Get in Touch

Have a smart idea?

The Commission is engaging Americans of all stripes and walks of life to solicit ideas for the future of foreign assistance. We want to hear yours.

We want your smart ideas. Please send them to us at . . .

smartideas@coffa.org

For press inquiries, please include “Media” in your subject line.