	Overview

There have been sharp debates over the past three decades in Congress and differencesbetween the executive and legislative branches on the appropriate level of funding for U.S. foreignpolicy programs. These debates are continuing in 2006 as Congress reviews the President's FY2007budget proposal. The past 30 years have witnessed wide swings in the amounts of resources the United Stateshas committed to advancing foreign policy and national security interests, reflecting changes inglobal challenges faced by the United States. Efforts to promote peace in the Middle East, toconfront Soviet influence, especially in the developing world, to support new democracies in thepost-Cold War era, to fight poverty and disease affecting poor nations, to combat global terrorism,and to stabilize fragile or failed states have had a substantial impact on levels of foreign policyresources. Likewise, during times of international crisis and especiallysince the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, international affairs spending has been one of themost rapidly increasing areas of the U.S. budget. The foreign policy budget rose slightly in FY1998 but significantly in FY1999 and FY2000compared to amounts during the mid-1990s. Although the amount of spending for international activities has grownsignificantly since September 11, compared to changes in the overall size of thefederal budget, the share allocated for foreign policy programs has declined (with theexception of FY2004 and the $18.45 billion supplemental for Iraq). Foreign Assistance to Africa

Over the past three decades, countries in sub-Saharan Africa have received$72.2 billion (constant FY2006 dollars) in economic and military assistance from theUnited States. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), however, hasbeen the most expansive of the Bush Administration foreign aid policies benefittingAfrica. The $5.9 billion in U.S. aid to Africa estimated for FY2006 is the largest level in three decades and totals nearly three times the $2.2billion annual average since FY1977. State Department & Public Diplomacy Spending
KEY TRENDS 
Funding for State Department personnel, embassy security, public diplomacy, and dues for international organizations has increasedsteadily over the past three decades, peaking in FY2006 at $12.2 billion (constant dollars), including costs for a U.S. embassy operations inIraq.
There have been sharp debates over the past three decades concerning the appropriate levelof funding for U.S. foreign policy programs, and it is likely that these debates will continue asCongress reviews the President's FY2007 budget proposal. The past 30 years have witnessed wideswings in the amounts of U.S. resources committed to advancing foreign policy and national securityinterests, reflecting changes in global challenges faced by the United States. Efforts to promotepeace in the Middle East, to confront Soviet influence, to support new democracies in the post-ColdWar era, to fight poverty and disease affecting poor nations, to combat global terrorism, and tostabilize fragile or failed states have had a substantial impact on levels of foreign policy resources.
Key highlights of international affairs spending trends include:
After a substantial decline during the mid-1990s, total foreign policy spendinghas grown significantly since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Not only has the UnitedStates allocated large amounts of resources for fighting the global war on terror, the BushAdministration has launched two major new foreign aid initiatives -- the Millennium ChallengeAccount and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The $53.8 billion(constant FY2006 dollars) budget for FY2004, which included Iraq reconstruction funds, representedby far the highest level of spending during the past three decades.
Although the amount of spending for international activities has grownsignificantly since September 11, compared to changes in the overall size of the federal budget, theshare allocated for foreign policy programs has declined (with the exception of FY2004) due toincreases in defense, homeland security, and, in FY2005 and FY2006, Hurricane Katrinarelief.
"Core" bilateral development assistance funding accounts -- those focusing onlong-term poverty reduction and economic growth -- have more than tripled sinceFY2000.
The $5.9 billion in U.S. aid to Africa estimated for FY2006 is the largest levelin three decades and totals over two and a half times the $2.2 billion annual average since FY1977. President Bush pledged to double U.S. assistance to Africa between 2004 and2010.
Funding for State Department personnel, embassy security, public diplomacy,and dues for international organizations has increased steadily over the past three decades, peakingin FY2006 at $12.2 billion (constant dollars), including operational costs inIraq.
This report will be updated as new data become available.