Committee Approves FY25 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 31 to 26.

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State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said, “As Chairman of the Subcommittee that funds our national security and foreign policy priorities, I am pleased that our Fiscal Year 2025 proposed funding legislation was approved by the full committee. We achieved a 19% reduction from the President’s Budget, and an 11% cut from Fiscal Year 2024 enacted levels. This legislation reaffirms American leadership, supports key allies such as Israel and Taiwan, counters adversaries including Communist China and the terrorists of Cuba, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and promotes global freedom and security. Under the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole, the State and Foreign Operations bill for Fiscal Year 2025 builds on the policy victories of the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted bill, with a focus on supporting America’s allies, firmly confronting our adversaries, and prioritizing our national security.”

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “Our actions today uphold the United States as a world leader for freedom, prosperity, and peace. Each priority ensures Americans are safer at home and abroad and sends a clear message that we will protect our interests. It confronts authoritarian regimes and their expansionist threats that seek to undermine our nation and liberty-loving ideals. As Moscow and Beijing pursue their communist agendas, Tehran continues its reign of terror, and transnational criminals infiltrate our border with fentanyl, this bill reasserts deterrence and maximum pressure against bad actors. Chairman Díaz-Balart proved we can accomplish more with less. I commend his work, and I look forward to strengthening our national security and standing firm with our allies and partners by supporting this legislation.”

Subcommittee Chairman Diaz-Balart’s opening remarks are available here.

Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act

The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $51.713 billion, which is $7.6 billion (11%) below the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and $12.26 billion (19%) below the President’s Budget Request. 

The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our national security, safeguard our global economic interests, support our allies and partners, and promote democracy and freedom abroad.

Key Takeaways 

• Supports our great ally Israel by:
  • Including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel to defend itself against terrorist attacks. 
  • Prohibiting funding for the International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), and the United Nations Commission of Inquiry against Israel. 
• Counters the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by: 
  • Providing $2.1 billion for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and to counter malign influence.
  • Including $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Taiwan to strengthen deterrence across the Taiwan Strait and up to $2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for such purpose.
  • Fully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million.
  • Prohibiting funds for the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party, prohibiting funds for countries to repay debt owed to China, and prohibiting funds for international financial institutions from loans to the PRC.
• Strengthens our national security by: 
  • Prioritizing funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.
  • Prohibiting funds that encourage or facilitate irresponsible migration towards the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • Prohibiting the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps from being removed from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list. 
  • Prohibiting funds to implement a nuclear agreement with Iran unless ratified by the Senate.
  • Prohibiting funds to be used to implement the Arms Trade Treaty.
  • Supporting freedom in the Western Hemisphere, including $35 million for democracy programs for Cuba.
• Responsibly refocuses taxpayer resources by: 
  • Eliminating funding for the United Nations’ (UN) regular budget, resulting in savings of $761.6 million.
  • Eliminating eight accounts in the bill, including the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund, International Organizations and Programs, Contribution to the Clean Technology Fund, and Contributions to the Inter-American Development Bank.
  • Reducing 14 accounts in the bill below the FY19 enacted level, including Contributions to International Organizations, Contributions to International Peacekeeping Activities, Economic Support Fund, Migration and Refugee Assistance, and Peacekeeping Operations.
  • Reducing 14 accounts in the bill to the FY19 enacted level, including the United States Agency for Global Media, Peace Corps, and International Development Association.
  • Terminating more than 18 unnecessary programs, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Women, UN Montreal Protocol, UN Environment Fund, and World Economic Forum.
  • Prohibiting funding for Special Envoys, Special Representatives, Special Coordinators, and Special Advisors unless such positions are expressly authorized or have affirmatively received the advice and consent of the Senate. 
    • Eliminating 33 Special Envoys and Special Representatives at the Department of State, including the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Special Envoy for Racial Equity and Justice, Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, Special Envoy for International Labor Affairs, and Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs. 
  • Prohibiting the Treasury Department from carrying out the Biden Administration’s climate agenda at the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, which harms developing countries and opens the door to predatory financing from the PRC.
  • Prohibiting the Administration’s current practice of co-opting programming, such as that to empower women; advance democracy and freedom; or counter trafficking in persons, to advance its radical global climate change agenda. 
  • Prohibiting funds for the Green Climate Fund, Clean Technology Fund, and Loss and Damages Fund.
  • Prohibiting funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the EcoHealth Alliance, any gain-of-function research, and labs in adversarial nations like China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, or Cuba.
• Supports American values and principles by:
  • Maintaining all long-standing, pro-life protections.
  • Implementing the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, also known as the expanded Mexico City Policy, on all health funds in the bill.
  • Prohibiting funds for controversial organizations and programs, such as the United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, and Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund. 
  • Supporting religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid.
  • Allowing only the American flag and other official flags to be flown over U.S embassies.
  • Banning “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech rights of American citizens.
  • Prohibiting funds for unnecessary regulations and controversial Executive Orders that disadvantage American businesses.
  • Prioritizing diplomatic engagement to favorably resolve commercial disputes abroad and to promote American business interests overseas.
  • Refocusing attention on critical diplomatic functions, addressing the backlog of passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of our embassies.
  • Prohibiting funds to implement COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans refused amendments offered by the Democrats that would have:

• Allowed funds to be used to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration towards the southwest border.
• Provided funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which is known to support coercive abortions.
• Provided resources to compromised organizations such as the World Health Organization or World Health Assembly and the Pandemic Treaty.
• Funded the United Nations’ controversial iVerify “fact-checking” program.
• Disbursed funds to the Office of Palestinian Affairs at the Department of State.
• Allowed for individuals in Gaza to be resettled in the United States.
• Allowed the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty without Senate approval.
• Funded the Administration’s wasteful green agenda.
• Allowed funds to be used to label Americans’ constitutionally protected speech as “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation.”
• Funded unnecessary and polarizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Promoted or advanced Critical Race Theory.
• Exposed Americans to religious discrimination.
• Allowed funding for drag shows.
• Provided funding for hormone therapies or surgeries for gender-affirming care.
• Allowed resources to be directed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, EcoHealth Alliance, or other laboratories owned or controlled by the People’s Republic of China.

Adopted Amendments

• Diaz-Balart (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Diaz-Balart (En Bloc) – 
  • Prohibits funding for unnecessary and polarizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • Protects Americans against religious discrimination.
  • Prevents funds to a foreign aid advocacy organization.
  • Prevents the targeting of conservative media through the Data Journalism Agency or Global Disinformation Index.
  • Prohibits the hiring of individuals based on gender, religion, political affiliation, or race.
  • Prohibits funds to U.S. universities that fail to act against antisemitism.
  • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 31 to 25.
• Clyde #1 – Prohibits assistance to the Republic of the Maldives until the Secretary of State determines that the Republic has revoked its ban on Israeli passport holders.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

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