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
House passes FY27 NSRP appropriations bill, rejects amendment to cut Fulbright funding
On July 15, 2026, the House approved the FY27 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill, including $647 million in topline FY27 funding for educational and exchange programs. The appropriations process is far from over as the bill now heads to the Senate where their version is still in the works.
Notably absent in the final House bill was an amendment proposed by Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO, 4) to eliminate funding for the Fulbright Program. The House overwhelmingly rejected this amendment with 79 yes votes to 348 no votes.
RESOURCES
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Amendment 1 to HR 8595 (#110 (Boebert) Eliminates funding for the Fulbright Program)
FY2027 House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Actand accompanying Bill Report
FY2027 Senate letter with 38 signers supporting funding for international exchange programs
FY2027 House letter with 89 signers supporting funding for international exchange programs
FY2027 State Department Congressional Budget Justification (ECE funding on pages 41-45)
Trump Administration FY2027 proposed skinny budget (ECE request on pages 5 and 6)
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Bill Text of the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (ECA section on page 194)
Explanatory Statement for the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (pages 8-9 outline exchange program funding and additional considerations)
Bill Summary of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026
House Appropriations Committee Press release on the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026
Bill Text of the FY2026 House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs funding bill (ECA section on page 4)
Bill Summary of the FY2026 House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs funding bill
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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Senate letter urging OMB and State Department to release FY25 ECA awards
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
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