Polan supports increasing funding for diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid to two percent of the federal budget. He is a strong proponent of common-sense foreign policy rooted in supporting America’s allies and confronting authoritarian powers around the globe.
“Foreign policy isn’t abstract to me. It’s about protecting America’s families, strengthening our alliances, and making sure the United States leads with both strength and values,” said Polan. “We live in a world where global instability reaches our communities at home, and Congress must take its responsibility for national security seriously.”
This is evident in his experience serving as a Strategy and Policy Advisor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the U.S. Northern Command in the U.S. Department of Defense after leaving the U.S. Army. During his tenure with the DoD, he worked closely with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on combating terrorists in Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, he assisted crisis teams during the Sudanese Civil War and the 2023 Niger coup. It was in these situations that Polan was not just able to strengthen the relationships between the United States and its allies, but he was also able to understand the role that humanitarian aid plays in stabilizing countries affected by war and displacement.
Polan’s home state of Illinois is home to 557 international development organizations, including Friends of the Children of Haiti, Syrian Forum USA, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, and One World Surgery. Altogether, all 557 organizations generate an average of over $518 million in revenue annually, with the main exports being medical biologicals, including vaccines, blood products, antisera, and cultures. With the Alliance for American Leadership’s endorsement, Polan will continue to be a champion for boosting funding for humanitarian aid, including international medical aid.
Formed after the shutdown of USAID, the Alliance for American Leadership is a political action committee dedicated to restoring American leadership through smart, strategic, and effective international assistance. Its political endorsements to date include James Walkinshaw, who recently won his election to become the representative for Virginia-11; Christian Menefee, who won his election to become representative for Texas-18; former USAID and USDA agriculture scientist Dr. Megan O’Rourke in New Jersey-07; Christina Gagnier in California-40; Erin Petrey in Kentucky-06; and former Ambassador Bridget Brink in Michigan-07.
With more than 1,100 volunteers from 50 states and 80 college campuses, A4AL is on track to mobilize 10,000 advocates by the 2026 midterm elections to restore USAID and strengthen American leadership.
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Alliance 4 American Leadership
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The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Alliance 4 American Leadership (A4AL) alone. Alliance 4 American Leadership would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.
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