Where Things Stand: An Update on OMB Holds on ECA Funding

Last week, the Alliance for International Exchange learned that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) plans to cut $100 million in FY25 funding for at least 22 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) international exchange programs. 

It’s been a week of devastation, but also of incredible mobilization from our members. Our advocacy campaign has generated 13,000+ messages to 503 Senators and Representatives in all 50 states.  

The response we’ve gotten from the Hill has been rapid and robust. The news has jumped started activity to push back on the cuts and the precedent they set. There’s motivation on the Hill to take creative action to protect our programs and we’re doing everything we can to harness that.  

It’s also important not to lose track of good news: even though 22 programs are facing devastating cuts, 28 programs that had previously been held are moving forward.  

Read on for more background and our most current lists of the programs moving forward, as well as those having funding eliminated. 

Background 

Earlier this summer, we learned that approximately 50 ECA programs set to be recompeted or renewed this summer, and funded with FY25 funds, were being held by OMB. OMB was preventing their Congressional Notifications (CNs) from being sent to the Hill, which effectively blocked the programs from being recompeted/renewed and the funds from being issued. This was being done despite the fact that Congress lawfully appropriated funds to the Department of State for these programs.

Program Status 

Last week, we uncovered that at least 22 programs were not moving forward and would instead have their FY25 funding “removed” by OMB. The Alliance is doing everything we can to reverse this decision, but it’s an uphill battle. Here is the list of 22 programs set to have their funding cut. 

• Community College Administrator Program (CCAP) 

• Community College Initiative Program (CCI) 

• Community Engagement Exchange (CEE, Leahy Initiative on Civil Society) 

• Community Solutions Program (CSP) 

• Council of American Overseas Research Centers 

• English Access Scholarship Program 

• English Language Fellow Program 

• Global Undergraduate Exchange Program 

• IDEAS Program 

• Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) and YES Abroad Program 

• Leaders Lead On-Demand 

• Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) 

• Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program 

• National Clearinghouse for Disability and Exchange (NCDE) 

• Professional Fellows Program 

• Survey of International Educational Exchange Activity (IEEA) in the United States 

• TechWomen 

• The J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative 

• U.S. Congress-Korea National Assembly Exchange Program 

• U.S.-South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) 

• Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship 

• Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship Program (PFP) 

Please note: this list may not be comprehensive due to the rapidly changing and sensitive nature of the situation. 

While this fight continues, there is good news: at least 28 programs (listed below) that were also being held by OMB have been released and their CNs have been sent to Congress. This is a crucial final step in these programs receiving their long awaited FY25 funding. Congress now has 15 calendar days to review and ask ECA questions about the programs. At the end of that 15-day period (late August or early September), the programs are considered approved, and ECA will be able to finalize the grants and distribute the funds necessary to implement them.  

• America 250 U.S. Speakers Program 

• American Film Showcase 

• American Music Mentorship Program 

• Art and Music Envoys Program 

• Artic Indigenous Exchange Program 

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program 

• Critical Language Scholarship Program 

• EducationUSA Advising 

• Fulbright Scholar Program 

• Fulbright Specialist 

• Fulbright Student 

• Fulbright Student MENA 

• Fulbright Teacher Exchanges 

• Fulbright University Vietnam 

• Global Media Makers 

• Global Sports Mentorship Program (GSMP) 

• Humphrey 

• International Sports Programming Initiative 

• IVLP Collaborative Services 

• IVLP Global Ties US 

• IVLP IAAD 

• IVLP NPA 

• National Security Language Initiative for Youth 

• Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program 

• Sports Visitor Sports Envoy 

• SUSI Scholars 

• Traditional Public Private Partnerships 

• U.S. Exchange Alumni Network and Capacity Building Program 

Please note: this list may not be comprehensive due to the rapidly changing and sensitive nature of the situation. 

Looking Forward 

It's important to note two things as we think about the future:  

First, this situation doesn’t impact all ECA exchange programs. It’s limited to the approximately 50 programs listed above. 

Second, if this situation tells us anything, it’s that OMB is setting a dangerous precedent by superseding Congressional authority and withholding funds. Our continued advocacy through the end of the fiscal year is essential to avoid and prevent as much damage to exchange programs as possible.