The U.S. State Department is announcing its decision this week regarding U.S. foreign aid. According to a statement issued by the communications office of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, American foreign aid—both humanitarian and development assistance—has been mismanaged and poorly directed. It has neither improved the living conditions of the people it was intended to help, nor, in most cases, served U.S. interests.

This statement, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, says out loud what many say quietly. It also bluntly acknowledges that U.S. aid—whatever form it takes—is conditional and self-interested. In other words, American philanthropy is not free.