I will note funding levels and trends for activities in each category and then discuss the particular set of issues and questions that could be raised with respect to relevance, priority, and efficiency. 3). From fiscal year 1992 to 1995, U.S. government agencies spent over $6.6 billion to support U.N. peace operations in Haiti, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Somalia; this figure includes $3.4 billion in incremental costs incurred by the Department of Defense and funded outside of the 150 account. 5). As I said earlier, a large percentage of sustainable development funding is directed by the Congress or the President for specific purposes, such as child survival and population programs. Foreign Affairs Management

In recent years, about 14 percent of the international affairs budget has been spent to fund activities related to the management of foreign affairs. The fiscal year 1997 funding level of $1.1 billion was 25 percent lower than it was in fiscal year 1992. Related—and large—expenditures for trade and investment activities and programs outside the 150 account include the activities of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the various agricultural trade promotion and credit guaranty programs, and the programs of the Small Business Administration. These tables are intended to illustrate the broad range of activities that support U.S. international policy objectives and are funded outside the 150 account. Examines programs, budget requests, and management activities; proposes changes; and participates in counterterrorism efforts. Provides information on national security and international affairs and gives training to foreign audit organizations. 2, 1995). 18, 1995). Multilateral Assistance

Multilateral Organizations: U.S.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the programs and activities funded by the international affairs budget, the function 150 account of the federal budget, focusing on the issues that should be raised in assessing the current programs and activities on the books that support U.S. foreign policy and economic objectives.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) funding in the 150 account, which totalled $18.1 billion in fiscal year 1997, constitutes only 1 percent of the federal budget and just 3 to 4 percent of discretionary funding; (2) these expenditures fund activities that are designed to influence world political and economic agendas; (3) to support its interest in such agendas, the U.S. government maintains a worldwide infrastructure of embassies, missions, consulates, and trade offices, with an overseas staff of more than 35,000; (4) the 150 account funds a wide range of programs and activities; (5) a large percentage of the funds in the account is directed by Congress or the President for specific countries and purposes; (6) to facilitate the examination of 150 account funding, GAO grouped the various programs and activities into six categories: (a) security and peacekeeping operations; (b) bilateral assistance; (c) foreign affairs management; (d) public diplomacy; (e) multilateral assistance; and (f) trade and investment; and (7) GAO presented information on the funding levels and trends for activities in each of the six categories and also discussed the particular set of issues and questions that could be raised with respect to relevance, priority, and efficiency.