Supporting America’s Presence Abroad Through the FY2017 Foreign Assistance Budget

Today, President Obama unveiled the FY 2017 Budget, which will support all federal programs from October 1, 2016-September 30, 2017. The total request for U.S. Department of State and USAID foreign assistance programming is $50.1 billion — less than one percent of the total.

As Secretary Kerry has noted when speaking about the United States’ federal government’s budget “…The funds that we devote to the entire range of foreign policy programming … all of that amounts to less than one percent of the federal budget. And yet it’s not an exaggeration to say that that one percent probably has an impact on 50 percent or more of the history that will be written about this era.” Secretary of State John Kerry made this profound statement at this time last year.

This one percent supplies the Department of State and USAID with the critical support needed to tackle major issues that range from the threat of ISIL, to ending the scourge of malaria, to providing humanitarian assistance after a natural disaster, to creating more democratic societies around the globe.

Foreign assistance is America’s face and presence around the world. It enables the U.S. government, our partner organizations, and the American public to help our nation take a leadership role in providing new, dynamic approaches to global challenges. The FY 2017 foreign assistance budget supports our national priorities by:

• Leading the coalition that will destroy ISIL and mitigate the crisis in Syria and Iraq by bolstering regional security and responding to related humanitarian needs;
• Combating climate change by reducing carbon pollution and implementing the Paris Agreement, through the Global Climate Change Initiative and Green Climate Fund;
• Committing to a long-term strategy to address migration in Central America by promoting good governance, shared prosperity, and improved citizen security;
• Strengthening effective global health programs including increased support for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as well as continued strong support for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR);
• Maintaining the re-balance to the Asia Pacific region, which advances economic integration, strengthens U.S. alliances, and promotes universal and democratic values;
• Bolstering development and economic growth by supporting food security, education for children and adolescent girls, clean water, and conservation of natural resources; and
• Sustaining our commitment to long-term national security, economic and development goals in Afghanistan, while sustaining a cooperative relationship with Pakistan on diplomatic and security matters.

These are just a few of many initiatives the FY17 foreign assistance budget will fund advancing the United States’ ability to lead on global issues around the world.

And our global leadership is more important now than ever, as the world becomes increasingly connected and more accessible every day. Today’s global challenges make clear, that what may appear to be a distant issue has the power to impact Americans here on our home soil. In order to adapt to this ever-evolving global landscape, we must change our approach to foreign assistance. President Obama underscored this in his final State of the Union Address, when he declared, “American leadership in the 21st century means seeing our foreign assistance as part of our national security, not charity.” This robust foreign affairs budget will help the United States continue to lead the world in by supporting vibrant, effective solutions to global challenges.