Educational and Cultural Exchange (ECE) Appropriations 

The educational and cultural exchange (ECE) programs appropriation funds educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs that are crucial to achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives. Each year, the Alliance submits requests to congressional committees in support of robust ECE funding. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, Congress funded U.S. Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs at $667 million. 

Funding for exchange programs delivers significant benefits to the United States. Over 90% of this exchange funding is spent in the United States or invested directly in its citizens or organizations, thereby strengthening the American economy. Additionally, people-to-people exchanges help promote increased understanding among nations through a public diplomacy approach, which supports our national security. 

Please see below for key resources relating to these efforts, including actions taken by the Alliance to advocate for congressional funding for educational and cultural exchange programs. 

THE LATEST

Senate letter requests robust FY27 exchange funding
On April 30, thirty-eight Senators, led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Senate Committee on Appropriations leadership requesting

  • Funding exchanges at $700.95 million for FY27; and

  • Retaining oversight language from FY26 to ensure appropriated funds are released in a timely manner and are utilized consistently with Congressional intent.

House Appropriations bill funds exchanges at $647 million
On April 28, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The Act proposes funding the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at $647 million. While nearly three times the $215 million proposed in the President’s Budget Request, this funding still falls well short of the $667 million enacted for FY26.

President’s FY27 Budget Request proposes 68% cut to exchanges
On April 3, 2026, the White House released its FY27 President’s Budget Request (PBR) with an educational and cultural exchange funding topline of $215 million (p. 5-6). This is a 68% proposed cut to the FY26 enacted level of $667 million.

TAKE ACTION

Urge Congress to Support International Exchange Programs and Reject 68% Cut in FY27 President’s Budget Request

act now

RESOURCES

MORE ON APPROPS

Featured
Adrienne Jacobs
ECA’s Account Is Full: What Is Apportionment And Why It Matters To Exchanges
Adrienne Jacobs

Apportionment is the practice by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of transparently making deposits into the accounts of federal agencies, which was codified into law in the FY22 appropriations bill. This year, because of this transparency, we know that the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has received its full FY26 apportionment, as well as its FY25 rollover funding and other unspent funds, which means they have over $1 billion in their coffers this year.

Read more →
Adrienne Jacobs
Alliance Staff
Thirty-eight Senators sign letter supporting robust FY27 exchange funding and funding protections
Alliance Staff

On April 30, 2026, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and thirty-seven fellow Senators sent a letter on behalf of educational and cultural exchange programs to the Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Senate Committee on Appropriations leadership. 

Read more →
Alliance Staff
Adrienne Jacobs
House appropriations subcommittee bill funds ECA at $647 million for FY27
Adrienne Jacobs

In a rejection of the Administration’s recent budget request, the House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP, formerly SFOPS) Subcommittee proposed funding the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at $647 million.

Read more →
Adrienne Jacobs