Advancing Religious Freedom Through U.S. Foreign Assistance: A Discussion with USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa

**__Please be advised: This event will premiere LIVE on this page at 11:00 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, October 27.__**

On October 27, USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa will participate in an event at the Hudson Institute in observation of International Religious Freedom Day. Its annual budget of $24 billion makes the U.S. Agency for International Development the world’s premier international development agency.

The event will feature a fireside chat between Acting Administrator John Barsa and the Hudson Institute’s Director of the Center for Religious Freedom, Nina Shea. The discussion will focus on the Trump Administration’s approach to advancing religious freedom through U.S. foreign assistance.

Religious freedom is a fundamental human right and the first freedom outlined in the United States’ Bill of Rights. When countries are effective in promoting and protecting religious freedom, they realize their aspirations for a better economy, greater political stability, and increased peace.

USAID is proud to play an integral role in advancing international religious freedom through the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 13926, which provides the tools to expand religious freedom in U.S. foreign assistance, economic strategies, and diplomatic workforce.