WASHINGTON – Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), released the following statement on efforts to protect the majority of $19 billion in congressionally appropriated international assistance funding at the close of fiscal year 2026:

As the fiscal year came to a close at midnight, nearly all of the $19 billion in congressionally-appropriated funding for critical international affairs programs that was set to expire has now been obligated and accounted for. These investments are a win for the American taxpayer.

We are grateful to the Administration and bipartisan Congressional champions, including Senators Susan Collins, Patty Murray, Brian Schatz and other Senate and House Appropriations leadership from both sides of the aisle, who worked around the clock with the State Department and Office of Management and Budget to deliver this result. These investments will now be used to fight hunger and disease, respond to humanitarian crises, outcompete our rivals, and advance America’s security and economic interests. 

This important achievement is another sign that the dynamic is changing, with growing support for diplomacy and international assistance, building on recent bipartisan progress for PEPFAR, Gavi, and the Global Fund, among others.

It stands in sharp contrast to last year’s attempted $16 billion pocket rescission for international assistance funding that was significantly clawed back. While we continue to oppose pocket rescissions, the fact that in this year’s effort, only a mere fraction of a percent of the total came from the International Affairs Budget, is another marker of the broader pivot underway.

USGLC’s bipartisan coalition will continue working with Congress and the Administration as these resources are allocated to address concerns about changes to Congressional intent and ensure the funds are used effectively and as intended. For now, ensuring these funds did not expire is an important achievement that preserves critical investments in America’s security and economic prosperity.