Supporting Ukraine and fighting a Russian invasion of a neighboring country, as well as countering Chinese influence, will be a priority for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during this of fiscal year 2024, officials from both agencies said Thursday. commenting on next year’s budget request, which was submitted today by the Joe Biden administration.
Ambassador John Bass, acting undersecretary for management and resources, said in the budget request, the president asked Congress to allocate $63.1 billion to the State Department. and USAID, up $4.9 billion, about 9% more than the budget passed by Congress for fiscal year 2023.
In addition to countering the Chinese threat, Bass pointed out, the State Department’s second priority is “to ensure that our work continues as part of a larger administrative effort to ensure that Russian aggression in Ukraine remains a strategic failure while supporting the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people.
The State Department’s budget for fiscal year 2024, the diplomat said, “will contribute to that commitment while promoting oversight and accountability to ensure taxpayer resources are properly spent and accountable.”
Paloma Adams-Allen, USAID associate administrator for management and resources, said the agency’s budget request for fiscal year 2024 is $32 billion, up $3 billion or 10 % compared to the 2023 budget.
This amount includes “vital assistance to support US foreign policy priorities, including additional resources to help the people of Ukraine and all those affected by (Vladimir) Putin’s brutal invasion; counter … anti-democratic threats from the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China,” Adams-Allen said.
In total, the White House is requesting $10.5 billion in humanitarian aid, of which $6.5 billion will be managed by USAID. $469 million should be allocated to help Ukraine cope with the catastrophic consequences of Putin’s invasion – to support the economy and provide public services, strengthen energy infrastructure and cybersecurity.
Adams-Allen said the administration plans to spend $1.11 billion on USAID’s Feed the Future program to address the global food security crisis caused by Putin’s unprovoked war and the effects continual climate change.
