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) 2025, Congress funded U.S. Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange programs at $741 million through a Continuing Resolution ending on September 30, 2025.
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
Congress is actively working through the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations cycle, which includes determining funding for educational and cultural exchange (ECE) programs. Here are the main developments that have happened so far this year:
May
The President’s initial “skinny” budget proposed a dramatic 93% cut to these programs, reducing funding from $741 million to just $50 million and effectively eliminating the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
June
The release of the supplemental proposed budget details and the State Department’s Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) confirmed this topline request and further omitted key legislative safeguards, including the requirement to consult Congress before altering programs. The CBJ zeroed out all ECA programming, leaving only core program management funded at $50 million and proposing to reduce staff to 185.
July
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) - formerly SFOPS - shared its FY26 appropriations bill. Despite broader cuts of 22% to the State Department, the bill included $700.946 million in funding for ECE programs, only a 5.4% cut from enacted level.
Coming Up
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) is still finalizing its version, but indications suggest they are aiming for similar funding levels and supportive language as the House.
Resources
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FY2026 Senate letter with 35 signers supporting funding for international exchange programs
FY2026 House letter with 98 signers supporting funding for international exchange programs
Written testimony to House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees (NSRP and SFOPS)
Appropriations requests submitted to 143 House and Senate offices
More than 20,600 letters sent to Congress opposing the President’s FY26 Budget Request
FY2026 State Department Congressional Budget Justification (ECE funding on pages 75-77)
White House supplemental budget appendix (ECE funding on pages 675-676)
Trump Administration FY2026 proposed skinny budget (ECE request on page 2)
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FY2025 Senate letter supporting funding for international exchange programs
FY2025 House letter supporting funding for international exchange programs
Coalition letter in support of BridgeUSA appropriations directive
FY2025 State Department Congressional Budget Justification (ECE funding on pages 60-64)
White House budget appendix for the Department of State and other international programs
Biden Administration FY2025 proposed budget
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Alliance letter of concern regarding FY2024 ECA funding
FY2024 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding
FY2024 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding
FY2024 State Department Congressional Budget Justification (ECE funding on pages 57-61)
White House budget appendix for the Department of State and other international programs
Biden Administration FY2024 proposed budget
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FY2023 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding
FY2023 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding
FY2023 State Department Congressional Budget Justification
White House budget appendix for the Department of State and other international programs
Biden Administration FY2023 proposed budget
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FY2022 State Department Congressional Budget Justification
White House budget appendix for the Department of State and other international programs
White House FY2022 proposed budget
FY2022 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding
FY2022 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding
White House FY2022 discretionary budget request
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FY2021 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2021 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
House Resolution 845 – Recognizing that international education and exchange programs further national security and foreign policy priorities, enhance economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.
FY2021 State Department Congressional Budget Justification.
White House FY2021 Proposed Budget.
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FY2020 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2020 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2020 State Department Congressional Budget Justification.
White House FY2020 Proposed Budget.
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FY2019 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2019 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2019 State Department Congressional Budget Justification.
White House FY2019 Proposed Budget.
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FY2018 Senate letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
FY2018 House letter supporting international exchange programs funding.
Senate Resolution 357 – A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that international education and exchange programs further United States national security and foreign policy priorities, enhance United States economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations, and for other purposes.
House Resolution 470 – Recognizing that international education and exchange programs further national security and foreign policy priorities, enhance economic competitiveness, and promote mutual understanding and cooperation among nations.
1,200+ Veterans Take Aim at Budget Cuts for State in a letter to Congress.
Letter from 163 former U.S. Ambassadors supporting international exchange programs.
Op-Ed – International Exchange Programs Receive Unprecedented Support.
Op-Ed – International Exchange Programs are Vital to America’s Security.