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R48624Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2026 Budget and Appropriations

Reports · published 2026-05-11 · v1 · Active · crsreports.congress.gov ↗

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Authors
Emily M. McCabe · Cory R. Gill
Report id
R48624
Summary

Congress typically considers 12 distinct appropriations measures on an annual basis to fund federal programs and activities. Since FY2008, one of these measures has been the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill, which has included funding for U.S. diplomatic activities; cultural exchanges; development, security, and humanitarian assistance; and participation in multilateral organizations, among other international activities. For FY2026, the Trump Administration requested $31.14 billion in new budget authority for SFOPS accounts, while at the same time requesting the rescission and cancellation of $22.30 billion of previously appropriated SFOPS funding. The FY2026 request, not including rescissions, represented a 41.2% decrease from FY2025 total enacted SFOPS funding. When including the proposed rescissions and cancellations, the request represented an 83.0% decrease from FY2025 enacted funding. Consistent with previous budget requests and annual SFOPS appropriations measures, the budget request divided SFOPS into two main components: Department of State and Related Agency. These accounts, which traditionally have been provided in Title I of the SFOPS bill, primarily support Department of State diplomatic and security activities, along with the department’s internal management functions. The Trump Administration proposed $11.94 billion in new budget authority for Title I accounts in FY2026, a 28.2% decrease from total FY2025 enacted levels. Foreign Operations and Related Programs. These accounts, which have typically been provided in Titles II-VI of the SFOPS bill, have funded most foreign assistance activities. The FY2026 request included a total of $19.20 billion in new budget authority for these accounts, a 47.1% decrease from total FY2025 enacted levels. On July 23, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee approved a FY2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations measure, H.R. 4779 (comparable to prior years’ SFOPS bills, with a different title). If enacted, the bill would have provided $49.45 billion in new budget authority for NSRP accounts, or a net of $45.90 billion when including rescissions of prior year budget authority. Congress enacted legislation on November 12, 2025, P.L. 119-37, that included a continuing resolution (CR) to fund SFOPS/NSRP-supported federal government agencies in FY2026 at FY2025 levels. The CR extended funding through the earlier of January 30, 2026, or the enactment of a full-year appropriation. On February 3, Congress enacted the FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 119-75), a “minibus” of six appropriations bills with Division F as the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The act includes $50.07 billion for NSRP, net of rescissions, representing a 3.5% decrease from FY2025 enacted SFOPS funding and a 466.3% increase from the President’s request for FY2026. Table A-1 provides an account-by-account comparison of the FY2026 request, FY2026 House bill, and final FY2026 NSRP appropriations, with FY2025 enacted funding levels. Table A-2 offers a similar comparison focused specifically on the International Affairs budget (Function 150). Both appendices will be updated to reflect congressional action. Figure A-1 depicts the typical International Affairs budget account structure. This report tracks SFOPS budget requests and appropriations, comparing funding levels for accounts and purposes. It does not provide extensive analysis of international affairs policy issues. For in-depth analysis and contextual information on international affairs issues, consult the wide range of CRS reports on specific subjects, such as human rights, diplomatic security, and U.S. participation in the United Nations. For more information on SFOPS accounts, see CRS Report R40482, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations: A Guide to Component Accounts; for more on NSRP accounts, see CRS Report R48939, National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations: A Guide to Component Accounts.

Bills cited (7)

Curated by CRS — every bill listed in this report's relatedMaterials. Edge type cited_in_report, gold confidence.

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