President’s FY27 budget proposes 68% cut to Department of State exchange programs
Not surprising, but disappointing. The White House’s FY27 Presidential Budget Request (PBR) proposes defunding and decimating Department of State international exchange programs.
Released last week, the PBR proposes funding the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at $215 million for FY27, a 68% topline cut from the FY26 enacted level. The complementary Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) provides further detail on how these cuts would be enacted, proposing the elimination of 15+ programs and slashing funding for countless more.
If enacted, the cuts proposed would inhibit American excellence at home and on the world stage.
Eliminating the Gilman Program denies American undergraduates with high financial need the ability to study or intern abroad, both of which are attractive experiences to employers.
Eliminating the Stevens Initiative prevents the creation of leadership opportunities for rising American generations.
Eliminating American Overseas Research Centers prevents American scholars from conducting research on critical issues of U.S. national importance in 29 countries around the world.
Cutting funding for the Fulbright Program by almost 80% limits the number of accomplished American students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals that receive scholarships to study, teach, conduct research, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges.
Slashing and eliminating funding for Young Leaders programs in Africa, South-East Asia, and the Americas denies the U.S. opportunities to engage with the next generation of leaders in countries and regions critical to U.S. national security.
Cutting funding for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by more than 50% decreases the U.S.’ capacity to build long-term relationships between Americans and international leaders in government, business, academia, and other fields.
These programs provide countless benefits to the U.S. and Americans at an incredible return on investment. 90% of the Department of State international exchange program budget is spent on Americans traveling abroad or by international participants while in America.
Continued threats to exchange funding jeopardize short- and long-term program success. But the exchange community has the tools and proven track record to push back against threats like the FY27 PBR. Last year, we sent 20,000+ letters to Congress urging them to reject the FY26 PBR, which proposed a 93% cut to Department of State international exchange programs, and to fund exchanges at no less than $741 million. Thanks to our efforts and strong bipartisan support on the Hill, Congress soundly rejected the proposed cut and, in a significant signal of Congress’ continued support for ECA exchange programs amid a broader environment of sweeping funding cuts, funded exchanges at $667 million.
While the President’s Budget Request shows a concerning lack of commitment to one of the U.S.’ most effective public diplomacy tools, the Alliance is prepared and ready to once again take action and show Congress and the Administration just how important exchanges are to Americans across the country.
