In April 2025, Ingram and Paxton submitted written testimony for the hearing record with recommendations on advancing aid transparency to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs.
Congress has been a major champion of transparency in U.S. foreign assistance and for good reason. Transparency provides the ability to address a multitude of questions, including how much the U.S. is spending on foreign assistance, for what purpose, where, in what sectors, through which implementers, and importantly, with what results?
Transparency allows various policymakers and other stakeholders to fulfill their respective roles. It allows Congress to exercise its roles in authorizing and appropriating foreign assistance and in conducting oversight to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and efficiently. It provides the executive branch with critical information for making decisions on what foreign assistance to provide to what countries and in what areas. It is important for the American people to understand how and where its government provides foreign assistance. It serves to inform development partners where and how they might collaborate with the U.S. It informs governments, stakeholders, and communities in other countries what assistance the U.S. is providing and what impact U.S. programs are having.