House passes FY27 funding bill, rejects amendment to eliminate Fulbright funding

Yesterday, the House approved the FY27 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) appropriations bill, sending its funding proposal for the Department of State and exchange programs to the Senate in a major step forward for the appropriations process. The bill includes topline FY27 funding for educational and cultural exchange programs at $647 million. 

Notably absent in the final bill was an amendment proposed by Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO, 4) to eliminate funding for the Fulbright Program. Though the amendment’s inclusion in the bill was unlikely, its defeat is a significant win for the exchange community and signals the program’s continued strong bipartisan support in Congress. Over 2,800 advocates sent 3,116 messages to their Representatives urging them to vote no on the amendment and highlighting how important the Fulbright Program is to Americans and their communities. 

Congress listened. 348 Representatives voted against the amendment, and the Chairman and ranking member of the NSRP appropriations subcommittee stood to voice their support for the program during debate. NSRP Committee Ranking Member Lois Frankel (D-FL, 22) called the program a “smart investment” and “one of the most well-established and prestigious programs in the world.” NSRP Committee Chair Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL, 26) deemed Fulbright the “crown jewel” of exchange programs, sharing that he heard directly from several of President Trump’s ambassadors in South America that the program is a valuable U.S. national security tool. 

Now that the House appropriations bill has passed, what’s next for FY27 exchange funding? All eyes are on the Senate, where their version of the appropriations bill is still in the works. We are hopeful that the Senate’s version of the bill will come closer to the Alliance’s request of $700.95 million and provide the robust oversight measures and earmarks we saw in the FY26 enacted legislation. The process is far from over, and every step matters. Follow the Alliance for the latest updates on FY27 exchange funding and ways you can help promote and protect the future of exchanges.