(English) U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA): Fiscal Year Appropriations Request

Key Chapter Title List

1. Secretary's Statement
2. Performance Statement and Evidence-Based Action
3. Appropriations Summary Table
4. Department of State and Related Agencies
5. Diplomatic Engagement Summary
6. Foreign Policy Reform and Adjustment
7. Ten-Year History of Appropriations for Diplomatic Engagement, Department of State
8. Public Diplomacy Resources
9. Summary of Department of State Fees
10. Cross-Cutting Table for Cybersecurity Budget
11. Diplomatic Programs
12. Consular and Border Security Programs
13. Information Technology Center Fund
14. Working Capital Fund
15. Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance
16. Office of Inspector General
17. Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs
18. Contributions to International Organizations
19. Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities

Document Introduction

This document is the Congressional Budget Justification for Fiscal Year 2026 submitted by the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to Congress. The report systematically outlines the foreign policy priorities, budget requests, agency reorganization plans, and performance management strategies of the Department of State and its related agencies under the framework of the America First policy.

The report begins with a statement signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, articulating the administration's core foreign policy focus on reducing the federal deficit and improving the return on investment for American taxpayers. The Department of State's base budget request for FY 2026 is $28.5 billion (excluding rescissions), aiming to build a more effective and efficient Department through streamlined programs and operations. The report emphasizes actively realigning resources to objectives that best serve U.S. interests while achieving overall cost savings.

The main body of the report details budget data for various appropriation accounts, providing comparisons from FY 2024 estimates to the FY 2026 request. The budget request demonstrates significant structural adjustments: the total request for Diplomatic Engagement and related accounts decreases from an estimated $16.8 billion in FY 2025 to $11.3 billion; the total request for Foreign Operations decreases from $42.4 billion to $18.1 billion. Specific changes include: significant reductions or eliminations of contributions to multiple international organizations (e.g., United Nations, World Health Organization) and peacekeeping activities; integration and reshaping of the foreign assistance system, including the creation of a new America First Opportunities Fund (A1OF) to respond to emergent opportunities and challenges, and the integration of some U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs into the Department of State; concurrently, reductions or restructuring of several bilateral economic assistance, multilateral assistance, and security assistance programs.

A dedicated chapter discusses the most comprehensive reorganization of the Department of State in decades, aimed at addressing issues of bureaucratic bloat, functional overlap, and inefficiency, with the goal of creating a more agile, focused Department that consistently prioritizes U.S. interests. While the full reorganization plan is not yet reflected in this budget request, initial steps such as the elimination of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) are included.

Furthermore, the report emphasizes evidence-based decision-making and performance management, detailing the strategic planning process, performance reporting mechanisms, and the application of data and artificial intelligence (AI) tools (such as StateChat, Northstar) in enhancing diplomatic efficiency. The report also outlines plans for taking over and improving data quality on the ForeignAssistance.gov platform during the integration of USAID functions.

In summary, this budget justification is a comprehensive policy document that reflects a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards America First, pursuing strategic focus and fiscal austerity. It is not merely a list of financial requirements but a systematic reassessment and planning of the role, priorities, and operational methods of the U.S. foreign affairs apparatus. It holds significant reference value for understanding the direction of U.S. foreign and foreign assistance policies in the coming years.