International Affairs Budget Update
July 25, 2025
I. House Appropriations Committee Approves FY26 National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Bill
Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee approved its FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations bill on a party-line vote of 35-27, following approval at the subcommittee level last week. In total, the bill provides $46.2 billion for America’s diplomatic and international assistance agencies and programs – 22% (-$13.1 billion) below the FY25 enacted level.
Adding in funding for international food assistance provided through the House FY26 Agriculture Appropriations bill and the small amount of funding for international programs provided through the House FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill – which has yet to be marked up – the FY26 International Affairs Budget receives a total of $47.2 billion. This represents a 23% (-$13.9 billion) cut compared to the FY25 enacted level but is 58% (+$17.4 billion) above the Administration’s FY26 request.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET SNAPSHOT
| |
FY25 Enacted* |
FY26 Request** |
FY26 House |
| Non-Emergency |
$58.6 billion |
$29.8 billion |
$47.2 billion |
| Base Emergency |
$2.5 billion |
$0 |
$0 |
| Total |
$61.1 billion |
$29.8 billion |
$47.2 billion |
** Includes $2.5 billion in base emergency funding, which has not been made available because the Administration chose not to concur with Congress’s emergency designation.
**Reflects CBO’s re-estimate of the Administration’s request, which excludes some $20 billion in rescissions of previously appropriated funding assumed in the request but for which the Administration never provided Congress with specific proposals.
During the markup, Members offered several amendments – three of which were adopted by the full committee. These include:
- A manager’s amendment offered by Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) to make technical changes to the bill and report – including striking language that would have extended by 45 days the period of availability for any funds in the House bill proposed for rescission within 60 days of those funds expiring. This provision was aimed at preventing the Administration from attempting a “pocket rescission” – a scenario where the Administration submits a rescissions proposal to Congress so late in the fiscal year that the funds expire before Congress has had the requisite 45 days to act. Adopted on a party-line vote of 34-27.
- An amendment offered by Ranking Member Lois Frankel (D-FL) to require that no less than 15% of National Security Investment Programs (NSIP) funds be available for “programs in Africa.” Adopted by voice vote.
- An amendment offered by Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) to support better oversight of electronic waste exports to adversarial countries. Adopted by voice vote.
While Committee action is now complete, with the House now adjourned for its five-week August recess, the earliest floor action could occur is when Members return after Labor Day.
Select Highlights
Below are select highlights of programmatic funding levels in the House NSRP bill and report. Additional detail can be found in USGLC’s account-by-account summary table. Unless otherwise noted, comparisons are to the FY25 enacted level.
International Security Assistance
The House provides $10.1 billion for international security assistance, a 13% (+1.1 billion) increase compared to the FY25 enacted level and 64% (+$3.9 billion) above the Administration’s FY26 request. Of note:
- Provides $6.78 billion for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $1.9 billion for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) – increases of 11% (+$644 million) and 36% (+$497 million), respectively, compared to FY25 enacted levels.
- Includes $500 million in FMF grants, 67% (+$200 million) above the FY25 enacted level, and up to $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for Taiwan.
Peacekeeping
The House bill reduces funding for UN peacekeeping – which funds U.S. assessments for nine UN peacekeeping operations, including in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – by 54% (-$672 million). The House maintains funding at the FY25 enacted level for non-UN peacekeeping programs, although it also rescinds $50 million in unobligated and unexpended prior-year balances from the account.
While significant, these cuts are notably less severe than those included in the Administration’s FY26 request, which eliminates funding for UN peacekeeping and slashes non-UN peacekeeping funds by 93% (-$380 million).
PEACEKEEPING
| |
FY25 Enacted |
FY26 Request |
FY26 House |
| UN Operations (CIPA) |
$1.23 billion |
$0 |
$562 million |
| Non-UN Ops (PKO) |
$410 million |
$30 million |
$410 million |
| Total |
$1.65 billion |
$30 million |
$973 million |
Development Finance and Export Agencies
Under the House bill, America’s development finance and export agencies fare better than most other areas. Specifically, the bill:
- Includes $1 billion for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – equal to the FY25 enacted level and 24% (+$195 million) above the Administration’s request. Of this total, $243 million is for administrative expenses, $755 million is for program costs, and $7 million is for the Inspector General.
- Sustains funding for the Export-Import Bank and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency at the FY25 enacted levels of $149 million and $87 million, respectively.
Humanitarian Assistance
The House bill provides $5.5 billion for humanitarian assistance. While this is a significant 37% (-$3.2 billion) cut compared to the FY25 enacted level, it is also 37% (+$1.5 billion) above the Administration’s FY26 request.
In line with the Administration’s request, the House bill also merges most humanitarian aid into a new International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) account administered by the State Department.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
| |
FY25 Enacted* |
FY26 Request |
FY26 House |
| Disaster Assistance (IDA) |
$4.78 billion |
$0 |
$2.5 billion |
| International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) |
$0 |
$2.5 billion |
$5 billion |
| Migration and Refugees (MRA) |
$3.93 billion |
$0 |
$0 |
| Emergency Refugees (ERMA) |
$100,000 |
$1.5 billion |
$500 million |
| Total |
$8.71 billion |
$4.0 billion |
$5.5 billion |
* Includes $1.5 billion in base emergency funding ($750 million for IDA and $750 million for MRA), which has not been made available because the Administration chose not to concur with Congress’s emergency designation.
Development and Economic Assistance
The House bill makes deep cuts to economic and development assistance and merges several separate accounts. Specifically, the bill consolidates three accounts – Development Assistance (DA), the Economic Support Fund (ESF), and Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) – into a single new National Security Investment Programs (NSIP) account that is reduced by 20% (-$1.7 billion) compared to the combined FY25 enacted level for these accounts.
Additionally, the House bill also:
- Makes available up to $1.7 billion – including $750 million from the new NSIP account and $950 million from several security assistance accounts – for a new America First Opportunity Fund (A1OP) to provide a rapid and flexible means of “responding to crises, engaging proactively with strategic partners, and countering threats from adversaries.”
- Maintains funding at the FY25 enacted levels for the Democracy Fund and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
- Reduces funding for the Peace Corps by 5% (-$20 million) compared to the FY25 enacted level.
Overall, the House cuts are far less severe than the Administration’s FY26 request, which would eliminate or dramatically scale back funding for nearly every development or economic assistance-focused account.
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
| |
FY25 Enacted* |
FY26 Request |
FY26 House |
| A1OP |
$0 |
$2.89 billion |
$2.9 billion |
| NSIP |
$0 |
$0 |
$6.89 billion |
| Development Assistance (DA) |
$3.93 billion |
$0 |
$0 |
| Economic Support Fund (ESF) |
$3.89 billion |
$3.81 billion |
$0 |
| AEECA |
$770 million |
$0 |
$0 |
| Democracy Fund |
$345 million |
$0 |
$0 |
| MCC |
$930 million |
$224 million |
$930 million |
| Peace Corps |
$431 million |
$431 million |
$411 million |
*Includes $610 million in base emergency funding ($300 million for ESF and $310 million for AEECA), which has not been made available because the Administration chose not to concur with Congress’s emergency designation.
Global Health
Overall funding for Global Health Programs is reduced by 5% (-$512 million) compared to the FY25 enacted level but is 151% (+$5.7 billion) above the Administration’s FY26 request. A few areas to note:
- Provides a total of $4.7 billion for PEPFAR – equal to the FY25 enacted level for bilateral HIV/AIDS after taking into account the House bill’s incorporation of previous USAID-administered funding into the State Department-administered program. Additionally, the House bill includes a new requirement directing the State Department to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress within 180 days of enactment to “guide the structured transition of PEPFAR-supported programs to country-led ownership.”
- Includes $1.5 billion for the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund – 9% (-$150 million) below the FY25 enacted level. This is a significant departure from the Administration’s request, which does not include a specific U.S. contribution and doubles the current 1:2 matching requirement for other donors to 1:4.
- Provides $300 million for a U.S. contribution to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is eliminated in the Administration’s FY26 request.
- Makes deep cuts to Global Health Security, although the bill does not include a specific funding level. Even if the $404 million in unallocated Global Health funding was made available for Global Health Security, this would amount to a 42% (-$296 million) decrease compared to the FY25 enacted level.
- Reduces funding for international family planning – which was zeroed out in the Administration’s FY26 request – by 24% (-$147 million) compared to the FY25 enacted level. The bill also prohibits funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and implements the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, the expanded Mexico City Policy.
GLOBAL HEALTH
|
FY25 Enacted |
FY26 Request |
FY26 House |
| Bilateral PEPFAR |
$4.4 billion |
$2.9 billion |
$4.7 billion |
| Global Fund |
$1.65 billion |
$0 |
$1.5 billion |
| USAID HIV/AIDS |
$330 million |
$0 |
$0 |
| Malaria |
$795 million |
$424 million |
$800 million |
| Tuberculosis |
$395 million |
$178 million |
$395 million |
| Maternal/Child Health |
$915 million |
$85 million |
$915 million |
| Vulnerable Children |
$32 million |
$0 |
$33 million |
| Nutrition |
$165 million |
$0 |
$173 million |
| Family Planning* |
$608 million |
$0 |
$461 million** |
| NTDs |
$115 million |
$0 |
$115 million |
| Global Health Security |
$700 million |
$200 million |
NA |
| Health Resilience Fund |
$6 million |
$0 |
NA |
| Global Health Workers Initiative |
$10 million |
$0 |
NA |
| Unallocated |
$0 |
$0 |
$404 million |
| Total |
$10.03 billion |
$3.8 billion |
$9.52 billion |
*State Department and USAID Global Health Accounts only, except for family planning.
**Represents a cap on funding.
Multilateral Assistance
Consistent with the Administration’s FY26 request, the House bill makes significant cuts to both U.S. assessed and voluntary contributions to the UN and other international organizations. Of note:
- Contributions to International Organizations (CIO) account, which covers assessed contributions to the UN and other international organizations, receives a total of $310 million – an 80% (-$1.2 billion) cut compared to the FY25 enacted level. The bill also eliminates funding for the UN regular budget and prohibits funding for the World Health Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Additionally, the bill rescinds $96 million in unobligated prior-year balances from the account.
- Zeroes out the International Organizations and Programs (IO&P) account, which covers voluntary contributions to a range of international organizations such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
- Includes a new provision prohibiting funding to the UN Secretariat “or any of its affiliated offices of programs” until the Secretary of State makes certain certifications around UN actions regarding allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. As written, the language would impact more than just the office of the UN Secretary General including those coordinating humanitarian action, drug control, crime prevention, combatting terrorism, and the protection of children, as well as all peacekeeping and political missions, which fall under the Secretariat.
- Reduces funding for U.S. contributions to the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs) by 90% (-$2 billion) compared to the FY25 enacted level. Notably, this is one area where the House bill includes a cut that is significantly deeper than the Administration’s request, which would have reduced funding for IFIs by 39% (-$883 million).
Civilian Capacity and Operations
In general, the House bill reduces funding for personnel and other operating costs for the U.S. presence around the world compared to FY25 enacted levels. Of note:
- Consistent with the Administration’s decision to formally dissolve USAID and merge its remaining operations and functions into the State Department, cuts the USAID Operating Expenses account – which funds USAID staffing and operations – by 93% (-$1.6 billion).
- Reduces funding for Diplomatic Programs, which funds State Department staffing and operations, by 5% (-$447 million). By comparison, the Administration’s FY26 request cuts this account by 9% (-$844 million).
- Increases by 3% (+$55 million) funding for Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance.
Other Notable Areas
- Rescissions: The House bill rescinds approximately $3.2 billion in prior-year funds, including $1.3 billion for Development Assistance and $752 million for the Economic Support Fund. This comes on the heels of Congressional approval of nearly $8 billion in rescissions of FY24 and FY25 International Affairs Budget funds. As a reminder, the Administration’s FY26 request assumed over $21 billion in rescissions – although it only provided specific proposals for $1.6 billion of this total, with the remaining $20 billion unspecified.
- Competing with China: The House bill provides $400 million for the Countering PRC Influence Fund, the same level provided for FY25, and directs that $1.8 billion in economic and security assistance be allocated to implement the Indo-Pacific strategy.
- Environment and Climate: The House bill prohibits U.S. contributions to the Green Climate Fund. It also zeros out funding for the Clean Technology Fund and reduces funding for the Global Environment Facility by 7% (-$11 million).
- Food Security: The House bill includes $960 million to support Feed the Future and research and development initiatives at USAID – equal to the FY25 enacted level.
II. House and Senate Appropriators Approve FY26 Agriculture Bills
In recent weeks, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved their respective FY26 Agriculture Appropriations bills, which provide funding for two critical international food assistance programs. While the House and Senate reject the Administration’s proposal to zero out international food assistance funding in FY26, both bills include some cuts. Specifically:
- The House bill reduces funding for Food for Peace by 44% (-719 million), while the Senate bill includes a more modest 6% (-$119 million) cut. Additionally, the Senate bill requires the Administration to conduct an interagency review and submit a report to Congress within 60 days of enactment, “outlining the process and agency needs to support a transfer” of the program from USAID to USDA.
- The House bill includes an 8% (-$20 million) cut for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, while the Senate sustains funding at the FY25 enacted level.
AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS SNAPSHOT
| |
FY25 Enacted |
FY26 Request |
FY26 House |
FY 26 Senate |
| Food for Peace |
$1.62 billion |
$0 |
$900 million |
$1.5 billion |
| McGovern-Dole |
$240 million |
$0 |
$220 million |
$240 million |
| Total |
$1.86 billion |
$0 |
$1.12 billion |
$1.74 billion |
