So Where Do We Stand?
In April, the House-passed an FY12 budget resolution that cuts the International Affairs Budget 18% (to $41.0 billion) from FY11 and 27% from FY10 levels. In addition, the budget resolution did not classify the International Affairs Budget as part of national security spending, as was first done by President Bush in 2007.
On May 11, the House Appropriations Committee announced the 302(b) appropriations allocations for FY12. While war-related programs (Overseas Contingency Operations-OCO) are fully funded, the allocation contains a deep cut to “core” programs with serious long-term funding implications. The House’s $47.2 billion allocation for the State-Foreign Operations bill will result in a cut of $11.2 billion (-22%) to core, non-war related programs from FY10 enacted levels.
The House is not scheduled to take any action on the State-Foreign Operations bill before a Subcommittee markup in late July, and any floor action would not occur before September.
