The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 discretionary request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) represents a historic commitment to diplomacy and development. After four years of proposed cuts to foreign assistance in the President’s Budget Requests, the discretionary request proposes the most robust commitment in the Agency’s history to strengthen USAID’s development and humanitarian assistance around the world. The request significantly advances USAID efforts to: combat climate change, revitalize democratic values, address root causes of irregular migration in Central America, strengthen global health leadership, bolster humanitarian assistance, invest in a diverse workforce, and create inclusive work environments overseas and domestically, in accordance with the Interim National Security Strategy Guidance.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESIDENT’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDING REQUEST
COMBATS CLIMATE CHANGE
- Demonstrates the United States’ recommitment to fighting climate change through investments in adaptation and resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable landscapes.
- Increases bilateral programming for the Department of State and USAID by $200 million to dramatically expand the scale and geographic reach of international programs that combat climate change.
- Builds on USAID’s comparative advantage of working directly with local partners and governments as well as working collaboratively with key interagency partners to scale up innovative climate finance solutions.
REVITALIZES DEMOCRACY AND COUNTERS ADVANCING AUTHORITARIANISM
- Reinvigorates democracy, human rights, and governance to address democratic backsliding; expands programming to address corruption and corrosive capital; and broadens support for human rights and rule of law while increasing engagement with multilateral partners.
- Strengthens local partners to support democratic values and transparent political systems in contravention of other systems promoted by actors such as the People’s Republic of China and Russia.
- Addresses authoritarianism, disinformation, and corruption by working with allies and partners to play a lead role in defending democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION FROM CENTRAL AMERICA
- Includes $861 million for the State Department and USAID as a first step toward a four-year commitment of $4 billion, subject to the availability of appropriations, to sustain effective regional partnerships, strengthen government accountability, and address the root causes of irregular migration from Central America.
- Expands USAID’s support for programs focused on anti-corruption, human rights, and poverty reduction, including agriculture and health.
- Increases programming to counter violence, including gender-based violence, and expand economic development.
- Expands opportunities for education and training and drive economic growth throughout the region.
STRENGTHEN GLOBAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP
- Restores America’s role in leading the world through global crises by providing $10 billion to global health programs, of which nearly $1 billion would advance global health security and the Global Health Security Agenda. This includes support to build resilience for future epidemics and pandemics. Additionally, this includes an increase in funds to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging and infectious disease outbreaks by accelerating implementation of the U.S. Global Health Security Strategy and National Biodefense strategy.
BOLSTERS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
- Responds to the unprecedented needs from complex crises around the world to support vulnerable people abroad, people living in conflict situations, and other displaced persons.
INVESTS IN OUR PEOPLE
- Strengthens our diverse workforce by increasing the size of the Foreign Service and Civil Service.
- Invests in technology and training to revitalize the Agency’s national security workforce.
- Commits to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce both in Washington, D.C. and around the globe by expanding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and strengthening support for USAID employees throughout the Agency.
