How was the lend lease program a significant departure from the policy of neutrality?

The lend lease program was a program that was implemented in 1941 as an effort to support U.S. National Security by supplying aid to U.S. allies during World War II. Under this program the U.S. supplied food, oil, and other materials as direct aid to U.S. allies for free to gain leases to establish military bases in allied countries and to support the Allies war efforts against the Nazis. This was a significant departure from neutrality because the U.S. was now heavily involved in the affairs of many other countries in giving out aid and establishing military bases in foreign countries.