A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future
Report: A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future
Institutions: Stimson Center and The American Academy of Diplomacy
Date: October 2008
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This study examines key elements of the resource crisis in America's ability to conduct its international programs and policies. The study considers the 21st century challenges for American diplomacy, and proposes a budget that would provide the financial and human capacity to address those fundamental tasks that make such a vital contribution to international peace, development and security and to the promotion of US interests globally.
Key recommendations:
- U.S. direct-hire staffing in the four major categories of foreign affairs activity- core diplomacy, public diplomacy, economic assistance, and reconstruction/stabilization, as well as State Department training- be increased over Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 levels by 4,735 over the timeframe of 2010-2014, a growth of 46% above current levels in these categories (20% of total State/USAID staffing), to be accompanied by significant increases in training and in the number of locally employed staff overseas; the additional staff and related costs will rise to $2 billion annually by FY 2014
- Funding to permit ambassadors to respond effectively to humanitarian and political emergencies be increased by $125 million in FY 2010 and $75 million annually thereafter
- Public diplomacy programs, especially exchanges, should be expanded significantly, at a cost that will total $455.2 million annually by FY 2014
- Authority over selected Security Assistance programs, totaling $785 million annually, be moved in stages from the Department of Defense to the Department of State, with much of the implementation remaining at Defense. In areas where combat operations continue, authority would stay with Defense for the duration of those operations.
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