It seems like everywhere you turn, the U.S. is sending millions of dollars overseas to help other countries rebuild their power grids and provide humanitarian aid. While that’s all well and good, let’s not forget the fact that plenty of Americans right here at home are living without those very same necessities.

Take North Carolina and other parts of the South, for instance. Hurricane Helene left countless people without power, clean water, and access to food. Some are still waiting for the lights to come back on. Homes have been destroyed, supplies are scarce, and many communities feel left behind as they’re struggling to piece their lives back together. But instead of headlines about American relief efforts here, it’s all about how much money we’re pouring into places like Ukraine and Lebanon.

https:// /PowerUSAID/status/1842300789517406694

$157 million was just pledged to Lebanon as part of a new U.S. aid package. That’s in addition to the already massive amounts of cash and resources sent their way, even though Americans in the South are wondering where their help is. U.S. Aid Administrator Samantha Power tweeted about how the funds will support displaced people and bolster shelters and medical supplies, as 1.2 million Lebanese face the fallout from ongoing conflict. That’s heartbreaking, but so are the displaced American families, now living in shelters or with relatives, whose homes were destroyed by flooding.

Then there’s Ukraine, where USAID is sending tons of materials to secure power grids and protect infrastructure against Russian attacks. Power recently boasted that the U.S. has provided 10,000 tons of rebar and 200 miles of steel mesh to rebuild substations in Ukraine. We’re also partnering with over 300 tech companies to help grow their economy and connect them with U.S. businesses.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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