Highlights of the U.S International Developement Budget

Highlights of the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development Budget

Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 4, 2014

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“America is proud to be more engaged than ever, and, I believe, is playing as critical a role, perhaps as critical as ever, in pursuit of peace, prosperity, and stability in various parts of the world.”
Secretary John Kerry
World Economic Forum, January 24, 2014
The President’s FY 2015 budget request for the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is $46.2 billion. The request reflects continued American leadership in pursuit of stability and prosperity while making tough trade-offs to support national security, diplomatic, and development priorities.

Mindful of fiscal constraints, this budget provides American taxpayers a remarkable return on their investment in American leadership. With just over one percent of the federal budget, the State Department and USAID budget provides security, stability, prosperity, jobs, and opportunity as it addresses some of the most complex challenges of our time, ranging from extremism and fragile and failed states, to global food security and climate change. It also expands opportunities for diplomatic engagement with the governments and citizens in 190 countries, building partnerships that help protect U.S. interests, promote common values, expand economic opportunities at home and abroad, and empower the next generation.

The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Congressional Budget Justification is available at:http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/c6112.htm.

Protecting National Security
The budget makes strategic investments to protect Americans and promote our values and interests abroad through seeking to build more democratic, secure, and stable societies; foster economic opportunity; and forge lasting alliances based on common interests and shared values. The request sustains our investments in strategic partnerships, upholds our commitments to our allies in every corner of the world, supports reforms in the Middle East and North Africa, deepens U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, supports peacekeeping missions in trouble spots around the world, invests in efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, and counters violent extremism.

Middle East and North Africa ($7.0 billion). Bolsters security and economic partnerships with countries across the region to address high-stakes challenges. Provides robust support for Israel and Jordan while helping countries in transition like Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Includes resources to support the Syrian people, particularly by providing life-sustaining aid to those displaced by conflict; to address the regional impact of the Syrian conflict; and to promote successful transitions and reforms in the region.

East Asia and Pacific ($1.4 billion). Supports robust engagement in the Asia-Pacific region by strengthening our alliances; bolstering the region’s security architecture; focusing on economic development issues, including energy and the environment; and fostering people-to-people exchanges. Builds the regional and bilateral partnerships at the heart of a more stable, prosperous, and democratic Asia-Pacific, so that our economy can continue to grow and prosper in the 21stCentury.

Afghanistan and Pakistan ($3.6 billion). Protects our national security interests and sustains important investments in the stability, security, and development of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The budget focuses on developing our relationship with Pakistan’s new civilian government to lay the groundwork for stability and growth. The budget sustains our diplomatic platform, security operations, and priority assistance programs as the Administration determines the size and scope of a post-2014 presence in Afghanistan.

International Organizations and Peacekeeping ($4.8 billion). Continues our engagement with important partners and vital multilateral organizations, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, to enhance global stability and prevent conflicts. In partnership with other nations, supports critical UN and non-UN peacekeeping missions, including efforts to advance global security in Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic. Introduces a new Peacekeeping Response Mechanism to enable the United States to respond to unanticipated and urgent peacekeeping needs.

Security, Law Enforcement, Counterterrorism and Related Assistance ($1.3 billion, excluding the Middle East, East Asia and Pacific, Afghanistan, Pakistan). Reduces potential threats from international terrorist activities; illicit trafficking of weapons, narcotics, humans, and wildlife; and nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Strengthens security forces of key allies and coalition partners; builds military-to-military partnerships with countries around the world; and reinforces the rule of law.

Public Diplomacy and Education and Cultural Exchanges ($1.1 billion). Continues to counter violent extremism, expand and strengthen people-to-people relationships, inform policy making, and deploy resources in strategic alignment with foreign policy priorities; fosters support for academic programs, professional and cultural exchanges, and continued growth for strategic partnerships around the world.

Strengthening Our Economy And Combating Global Challenges
The request advances our economic leadership, helping to lay a foundation for shared and inclusive prosperity across the world by addressing the pressing need for education, jobs, resources, and economic opportunity. Our diplomatic and development efforts focus on protecting Americans at home and abroad, strengthening fragile states, addressing the root causes of poverty, promoting social and economic progress, all with the goal of supporting the rise of capable partners who can help to solve regional and global problems.

Global Health Initiative (GHI) ($8.1 billion). Reflects a comprehensive and integrated global health strategy toward achieving an AIDS-free generation and ending preventable child and maternal deaths. Builds on previous GHI investments made through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the President's Malaria Initiative, maternal and child health, and other programs. Includes $1.35 billion in support of the President's pledge to provide $1 for every $2 pledged by other donors to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, with an additional $300 million available, if enacted, through the President’s Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative.

Feed the Future ($1.0 billion). Works hand-in-hand with partner countries to continue sustainable investments in agricultural development with the goal of breaking the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty. Improves incomes and nutrition, working from farms to markets to tables and promotes greater private sector investment in agriculture. Funding also aims to reduce long-term vulnerability to food insecurity, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Additional funds to accelerate progress in focus countries, with an emphasis on programs to reduce recurrent food crises, would be provided through the President’s Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative, if enacted.

Global Climate Change Initiative ($506.3 million). Advances the goals of the President’s Climate Action Plan by fostering low-carbon growth, promoting sustainable and resilient societies, and reducing emissions from deforestation and land degradation. Continues collaborative efforts to slow, stop, and reverse greenhouse gas emissions in a way that promotes sustainable economic growth, increases energy security, and helps nations deliver greater prosperity for their people. Incentivizes private sector investment, improves resilience of countries that are most vulnerable to climate and weather-related disasters, and supports fast-growing economic and regional leaders in their transition to clean energy.

Humanitarian Assistance ($4.8 billion). Provides life-saving interventions to people affected by conflict or natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and having greater impacts. Includes $1.1 billion to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Requests $1.4 billion in P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid, continuing to support reforms within the Agriculture bill that will provide flexibility to assist approximately 2 million more emergency beneficiaries with the same level of resources.

U.S. Global Development Lab ($151.3 million). Invests in new approaches to sourcing and scaling solutions to longstanding development challenges using science, technology, innovation, and private-sector partnership in new ways. Builds USAID’s Global Development Lab to create a world-class capability to discover, incubate, test, and scale transformational solutions that are faster and cheaper—yielding a better return for American taxpayers. Additional funds to accelerate progress toward development goals would be provided through the President’s Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative, if enacted.

International Commissions ($116 million). Helps navigate foreign regulations, settle disputes, and compete for foreign government and private contract through negotiation of international agreements and treaties. Supports collaborative management of water resources along our northern and southern borders. Further contributes to the international management of fish stocks around the world to ensure continued availability of a critical source.

Our People and Platform
The United States must maintain a robust presence abroad both to meet the responsibilities of global leadership and to advance vital national security interests. Our diplomats and development experts work and live at 275 posts in almost every country on the planet, including in some of the world’s most dangerous places. Their work is instrumental in achieving the full range of our foreign policy objectives, whether reinvigorating peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, working to protect the environment, or fostering economic prosperity here at home. The budget protects our people and facilities from evolving security threats, helps to secure our borders, and provides critical services to American citizens overseas.

State Operations Diplomatic and Consular Programs ($5.4 billion). Supports ongoing operations for essential diplomatic personnel and programs around the globe. Major priorities include the Department’s core human resources, including Foreign Service, Civil Service, and locally employed staff; the daily operations of 275 diplomatic facilities in 190 countries; formulation of diplomatic policy, ranging from Economic Statecraft, to human rights and international security; as well as management support functions for the entire Department.

Worldwide Security Protection and Upgrades ($4.6 billion). Continues security protection operations and enhancements, with increased focus on high-threat posts. Security construction is funded at ARB-recommended levels, enabling several new construction projects as well as targeted physical security upgrades to ensure safe and secure facilities for our personnel overseas.

USAID Operating Expenses ($1.4 billion). Maintains the significant improvements in procurement, local capacity building, and innovation that USAID Forward has yielded to date; maintains core operations; and allows USAID to sustain current staffing levels.

Consular Affairs and the Border Security Program ($3.2 billion, fully offset by fee revenue). Provides secure error-free travel processes to strengthen our borders while keeping them safe for the legitimate flow of commerce; strengthens our economy and promotes America’s tourism economy; and provides assistance to American citizens abroad, often when they need help the most.

ENDS

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