Ethan Walker
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the top recipient of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). CRS is a nonprofit organization that has received $4.6 billion from 2013 to 2022, primarily for disaster assistance. The Trump administration's push to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development threatens billions of dollars in funding for faith-based organizations and nonprofits. Catholic Relief Services is bracing for massive cuts of up to 50% this year due to reductions in U.S. foreign assistance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Relief Services' ranking among USAID fund recipients | Top recipient |
| Amount of funding received by Catholic Relief Services from USAID over a nine-year period | $4.6 billion |
| Catholic Relief Services' budget for 2023 | $1.2 billion |
| Percentage of Catholic Relief Services' 2023 budget funded by the U.S. government | Nearly 50% |
| Catholic Relief Services' budget for 2025 | $1.5 billion |
| Amount of expected cuts to Catholic Relief Services' budget | Up to 50% |
| Number of countries Catholic Relief Services worked in during 2023 | 120 |
| Number of people Catholic Relief Services served in 2023 | Over 200 million |
| Number of projects Catholic Relief Services undertook in 2023 | 1,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services' areas of operation | Water and sanitation, education, agriculture, health, microfinancing, climate change resilience, justice, peace-building, and emergency and disaster assistance |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholic Relief Services is the top USAID fund recipient
- Catholic Relief Services faces staff layoffs and program cuts
- Catholic Relief Services is a nonprofit that received $4.6 billion from 2013-2022
- Catholic Relief Services provides food, water, and healthcare in conflict zones
- Catholic Relief Services has worked in 120 countries, serving 200 million people
Catholic Relief Services is the top USAID fund recipient
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the top recipient of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). CRS is a nonprofit organization that received $4.6 billion from USAID between 2013 and 2022. This amount constituted more than half of the Catholic Relief Services' $1.5 billion budget.
CRS was founded by U.S. Catholic bishops in 1943 to serve World War II survivors in Europe. It currently reaches more than 200 million people in 121 countries across five continents. The nonprofit provides programs and services in water and sanitation, education, agriculture, health, microfinancing, climate change resilience, as well as justice and peace-building programs, in addition to emergency and disaster assistance.
In 2025, the Trump administration targeted USAID with a spending freeze, office closures, and extensive staff cuts. This has resulted in Catholic Relief Services anticipating a reduction of up to 50% in their workforce and the termination of several programs. The cuts will be devastating, said Stephen Colecchi, the director of the Office of International Justice and Peace for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2004 to 2018. He added that the decision to target this tiny portion of the federal budget will cost people's lives and livelihoods.
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Catholic Relief Services faces staff layoffs and program cuts
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is facing staff layoffs and program cuts as a result of reductions in U.S. foreign assistance and changes to USAID under the Trump administration. CRS is the top recipient of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), receiving $4.6 billion in funding from USAID over a nine-year period from 2013 to 2022. This funding primarily supported disaster assistance, as well as water and sanitation, education, agriculture, health, microfinancing, and other programs.
In February 2025, the Trump administration targeted USAID with a spending freeze, office closures, and staff cuts. This has resulted in significant funding losses for CRS, which received nearly half of its $1.2 billion budget in 2023 from the U.S. government. As a result, CRS has begun laying off staff and shutting down programs, with expectations of reducing its workforce by up to 50%.
The cuts to CRS are expected to have devastating impacts, as the organization provides essential aid and support to millions of people globally. The Vatican's global charity arm, Caritas, has warned that the funding cuts will result in loss of life and the exacerbation of poverty.
The changes to USAID under the Trump administration have also impacted other faith-based organizations and humanitarian aid groups, causing layoffs, furloughs, and funding shortages. World Relief, for example, received a waiver to continue its work in Sudan but has not received expected government payments, leading to financial challenges and furloughs.
The future of CRS and other Catholic Charities agencies remains uncertain, with potential shifts in the landscape of their government-funded work for refugees and immigrants.
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Catholic Relief Services is a nonprofit that received $4.6 billion from 2013-2022
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a nonprofit organization, was the top recipient of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). From 2013 to 2022, CRS received $4.6 billion in funding from USAID, primarily for disaster assistance.
CRS was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. It now operates in 100 countries and serves 200 million people. The organization provides various programs and services, including water and sanitation, education, agriculture, health, microfinancing, and climate change resilience.
CRS has been subject to controversy in the past for supporting pro-abortion aid programs and attempting to mislead senators regarding an AIDS relief program.
In 2025, the Trump administration's push to eliminate USAID threatened billions of dollars in funding for both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. This resulted in chaos among USAID staff and panic among organizations that the agency funds. CRS was forced to make drastic financial and staff cuts, with layoffs and program shutdowns impacting all divisions and departments. The organization anticipated a significant downsizing by the end of the fiscal year.
The decision to freeze USAID funding has faced criticism, with the Vatican's global charity arm, Caritas, warning that millions of people will die, and hundreds of millions more will be condemned to poverty as a direct result.
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Catholic Relief Services provides food, water, and healthcare in conflict zones
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a non-profit, international humanitarian organization that has been providing relief and development to communities in need around the world for over 75 years. It is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.
CRS provides food, water, and healthcare in conflict zones and other areas in need. For example, in 2018, after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi, Indonesia, CRS staff provided food, clean water, household items, and emergency shelter to those affected. Similarly, in 2019, after back-to-back cyclones hit Southern Africa, CRS provided emergency shelter, hygiene kits, and clean water in the hardest-hit areas.
CRS also provides long-term development programming in areas such as agriculture, water, community health, education, health, HIV/AIDS, microfinance, and peace-building. They work with local partners in over 100 countries to implement programs that provide assistance in times of crisis while encouraging self-sufficiency and long-term progress.
CRS has also been providing COVID-19-specific programming in 73 countries and is supporting healthcare facilities with their COVID-19 response in 34 of those countries.
CRS is the top recipient of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), receiving $4.6 billion in funding from USAID over a nine-year period from 2013 to 2022. However, in 2025, the Trump administration's push to eliminate USAID threatened billions of dollars in funding for CRS and other organizations. As a result, CRS has had to lay off staff and cut programs.
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Catholic Relief Services has worked in 120 countries, serving 200 million people
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded by U.S. Catholic bishops in 1943 to serve migrants and refugees during World War II. CRS has since expanded its mission to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, regardless of their religious beliefs.
CRS has a long history of delivering lifesaving emergency assistance and development programs to vulnerable communities around the world. In 2023, CRS worked in about 120 countries, serving over 200 million people through 1,000 projects. The organization works with and through 2,000 field partners, about half of which are local Catholic parishes and dioceses.
CRS provides essential aid such as food, water, sanitation, education, and healthcare to those in need. They also work on disaster risk reduction and preparedness, as well as long-term development in areas such as agriculture, microfinancing, and peace-building.
CRS has been a significant recipient of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), receiving approximately $4.6 billion from 2013 to 2022. USAID grants have enabled CRS to undertake emergency assistance and long-term transformational development projects. However, recent cuts to U.S. foreign assistance ordered by the Trump administration have resulted in significant reductions in USAID funding for CRS, threatening the continuation of many of its vital programs.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Catholic Church's aid agency in the US, is the top recipient of USAID funding.
From 2013 to 2022, CRS received $4.6 billion in funding from USAID, primarily for disaster assistance.
CRS provides food assistance, water and sanitation, education, agriculture, health, microfinancing, and climate change resilience, as well as justice and peace-building programs in addition to emergency and disaster assistance.
CRS has been forced to shut down programs and lay off staff due to funding cuts. The Vatican's charity, Caritas, has warned that millions of people will die and hundreds of millions more will be condemned to "dehumanizing poverty" as a result of the funding cuts.
