HHS Refugee Aid for Ukrainians

GAO Reports & Testimonies

Published March 16th, 2026

Detected March 16th, 2026

Summary

A GAO report details how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocated $3.78 billion in refugee assistance funds from FY 2022-2024. Approximately 135,000 Ukrainians received aid, including cash, medical care, and housing.

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What changed

This GAO report, published on March 16, 2026, provides an overview of the refugee assistance provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Ukrainians granted humanitarian parole in the U.S. between fiscal years 2022 and 2024. HHS received $3.78 billion across three appropriations to fund this assistance, which included cash aid, medical care, and housing. Approximately 135,000 Ukrainians received services through state and local grantees, with the number of recipients varying significantly by state. HHS generally oversaw these programs using its existing framework, reviewing grantee reports and conducting monitoring.

While this report is primarily informational and does not introduce new regulatory requirements or deadlines for regulated entities, compliance officers in organizations receiving or administering such federal funds should note the reporting and oversight mechanisms described. The report highlights the scale of assistance and the types of services provided, which may be relevant for understanding federal grant management and compliance expectations in humanitarian aid contexts. No specific actions or penalties are detailed for regulated entities in this GAO report.

Source document (simplified)

GAO-26-107815 Published: Mar 16, 2026. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2026.

Fast Facts

Millions fled Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion. The Department of Health and Human Services received $3.78 billion for refugee assistance, including for Ukrainians who were granted temporary permission to stay in the U.S.

In this Q&A report, we looked at this assistance. HHS gave grants to state, local, and other organizations to provide cash aid, medical care, housing assistance, and more. From FY 2022 through 2024, about 135,000 Ukrainians received assistance from grantees. The number of recipients varied widely across states.

To oversee assistance, HHS generally reviewed grantee reports and reviewed programs on-site and remotely.

A Ukrainian Refugee in an Apartment

A person in a corner of an apartment kitchen, standing in front of a dishrack and next to a glass stovetop, with countertop appliances on either side

Highlights

What GAO Found

From fiscal years 2022 through 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted humanitarian parole—temporary permission to stay in the United States—to approximately 259,000 Ukrainians and their eligible family members. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received $3.78 billion across three Ukraine supplemental appropriations in fiscal years 2022 through 2024 to provide refugee assistance to Ukrainians granted humanitarian parole and other eligible populations. Refugee assistance can include short-term cash and medical assistance, as well as supports like employment services and language training.

Nationwide, about 135,000 Ukrainian parole beneficiaries received refugee assistance through programs administered by HHS in fiscal years 2022 through 2024 based on the most recent data available. The number served in each state ranged from fewer than 50 to over 24,000.

Number of Ukrainians Granted Humanitarian Parole That Received HHS Refugee Assistance by State, Fiscal Years 2022–2024 Combined

Selected state agencies and other HHS grantees GAO interviewed reported conducting outreach to Ukrainians and providing assistance with initial resettlement, housing, and legal services. Grantees also reported expanding service availability to underserved geographic areas and sometimes providing remote services.

HHS allocated almost half of the appropriated funds ($1.79 billion) based on population estimates of Ukrainians granted humanitarian parole and the remaining funds ($1.99 billion) based on estimates of other populations eligible for services from HHS, such as certain eligible Cubans and Haitians. It allocated most of the funds to state-administered programs that provide cash and medical assistance and refugee support services, such as employment services, language training, and case management.

HHS generally oversaw grantees serving Ukrainians within its existing framework for program oversight. HHS required grantees to report certain program and financial information, reviewed grantee reports and data, and conducted program monitoring reviews. GAO searched 31 selected monitoring reports from fiscal years 2022 through 2024 for findings specific to Ukrainian beneficiaries or instances of fraud overall. Across the selected reports, GAO identified one corrective action specific to serving Ukrainians, in which HHS required the grantee to update its eligibility training curriculum.

Why GAO Did This Study

Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine has caused devastating loss of life and a humanitarian crisis. Almost 6 million people have fled Ukraine as of December 2025, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, includes a provision for GAO to conduct oversight of refugee assistance provided under Ukraine supplemental appropriations. This report addresses who Ukrainian parole beneficiaries are, the HHS refugee assistance they received, how HHS allocated refugee assistance funds from Ukraine supplemental appropriations, and how HHS provided related technical assistance to and oversight of states and other grantees.

GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and regulations, including the Ukraine supplemental appropriations. GAO also reviewed related HHS policy guidance, monitoring reports, and other documents. GAO analyzed HHS financial data from fiscal years 2022 through 2025 and program data from fiscal years 2022 through 2024, based on availability. GAO also analyzed available DHS data on the number of Ukrainians and their eligible family members paroled into the United States in fiscal years 2022 through 2024. Additionally, GAO interviewed HHS officials, officials from three states, and representatives from five national resettlement agencies that served large numbers of Ukrainian beneficiaries.

For more information, contact Kathryn A. Larin at larink@gao.gov.

Full Report

Full Report (17 pages)

GAO Contacts

Kathy Larin Director Education, Workforce, and Income Security larink@gao.gov

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek Managing Director Office of Public Affairs media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Topics

International Affairs Beneficiaries Refugee assistance Refugee resettlement Humanitarian parole Supplemental appropriations Communities Health care Immigrants Technical assistance Refugees