WASHINGTON – The ONE Campaign released the following statement on the text of the final Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which includes a 6% cut to the overall foreign assistance budget. 

“While we recognize the fiscal constraints at play, cutting the foreign assistance budget this significantly is a failure to meet a moment of global crisis,” said Suzanne Granville, Executive Director for North America at the ONE Campaign. “Disproportionately slashing funding for our overseas investments – which makes up less than 1% of the federal budget – is short-sighted and dangerous for our domestic and global priorities.

“We are encouraged by increased resources to respond to conflicts and natural disasters. But, we are gravely concerned by deep cuts to core development accounts. It is critical we help those most in need, and that includes supporting our core economic and health investments that help break the cycles of crises we are facing.

 “As Congress turns its attention to FY25, we urge them to first prioritize passing an emergency supplemental that adequately funds humanitarian and development assistance needs.”

The appropriations bill also includes a provision reauthorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for one year – through March 2025 – which signals continued US commitment to the fight against global HIV/AIDS.

“We are glad to see continued bipartisan support for PEPFAR,” Granville continued. “We’re especially grateful to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and House and Senate leadership for their dedication to a program that has saved 25 million lives and made measurable improvements in the lives of millions more. 

“But PEPFAR has more lives to save. A clean, multi-year reauthorization of this program remains necessary to affirm to our international partners, particularly those in Africa, that Americans continue to be a reliable partner in the fight to end HIV/AIDS.”