National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 4779
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-07-25: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 177.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T16:13:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 4779: National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

Purpose

This legislation provides funding for the U.S. Department of State, foreign operations, and related national security programs for fiscal year 2026 (ending September 30, 2026). It aims to support U.S. diplomatic activities, international assistance, global health initiatives, military aid, and contributions to international organizations, while advancing U.S. foreign policy goals such as countering adversaries (e.g., China, Russia, Iran), promoting democracy, and addressing humanitarian needs. The bill totals approximately $60 billion in new appropriations, with rescissions of prior-year unobligated funds to offset some costs.

Key Provisions

The bill is structured into eight titles, allocating funds across diplomatic operations, bilateral and multilateral aid, security assistance, and general provisions. Major funding areas include:

Title I: Department of State and Related Programs
Diplomatic Programs: $8.97 billion for salaries, training, security (including $3.76 billion for Worldwide Security Protection), and operations; allows temporary hires without standard civil service rules.
Consular and Border Security Programs: $517 million (available until expended) to reduce passport backlogs and visa wait times; authorizes State officials or the U.S. Postal Service to collect passport fees.
Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance: $812.8 million for facility maintenance (available until 2030) plus $1.2 billion for security upgrades (available until expended); prohibits use for furniture or generators for other agencies.
International Organizations: $310.2 million for U.N. contributions and $562.3 million for peacekeeping (with half available until 2027); requires notifications for new missions and certifications on human rights vetting.
Related Programs: $681.4 million for international broadcasting (including $40 million for Cuba Broadcasting at prior-year levels); grants to entities like the Asia Foundation ($17 million) and National Endowment for Democracy ($315 million).

Title II: Administration of Assistance
$112 million for operating expenses to manage foreign aid under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Title III: Bilateral Economic Assistance
Global Health Programs: $3.62 billion (available until 2027) for child survival, HIV/AIDS ($5.9 billion, available until 2030, including $1.5 billion to the Global Fund), and family planning; prohibits funding for coercive abortions or involuntary sterilizations, with requirements for voluntary programs and medically accurate condom information.
International Humanitarian Assistance: $5 billion (available until expended) for disaster relief and refugees (prioritizing those in need); $500 million for the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund.
National Security Investment Programs: $6.89 billion (15% for Africa, available until 2027) for economic and security aid; $345.2 million for the Democracy Fund.
Independent Agencies: $410.5 million for Peace Corps (available until 2027); $930 million for Millennium Challenge Corporation (available until expended); smaller amounts for Inter-American Foundation ($10 million) and African Development Foundation ($6 million).
Treasury International Affairs Technical Assistance: $30 million (available until expended) for financial management training.

Title IV: International Security Assistance
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement: $1.9 billion (available until 2027) for anti-drug efforts and law enforcement training.
Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining: $870 million (available until 2027) for demining, anti-terrorism, and IAEA contributions (unless Israel is denied participation).
Peacekeeping Operations: $410.5 million (available until 2027), including $30 million for the Multinational Force in Sinai.
International Military Education and Training: $119.2 million (available until 2027), with $3.5 million to increase women's participation.
Foreign Military Financing Program: $6.78 billion for grants to allies; allows procurement of non-U.S. defense articles under certain conditions; up to $72 million for administrative costs.

Title V: Multilateral Assistance
$139.6 million for the Global Environment Facility; $32.4 million for African Development Bank (with callable capital limit of $856.2 million); $50 million for Treasury international programs, including loan guarantees.

Title VI: Export and Investment Assistance
Export-Import Bank: $125 million for administrative expenses (part available until 2027); $15 million for program costs (available until 2029).
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation: $983.3 million for corporate capital (part available until 2028); program account for loans up to $15 billion principal.
Trade and Development Agency: $87 million (available until 2027) for project promotion.

Title VII: General Provisions
Authorizes transfers (up to 5% between State accounts, with limits); prohibits first-class travel, non-.gov email servers, and funding for abortions/involuntary sterilizations.
Requires strategies for assistance effectiveness, beneficiary feedback, and evaluations ($25 million allocated).
Country-specific restrictions (e.g., no direct aid to Cuba, North Korea, Iran; coup d'état prohibitions with waivers).
Notifications for reprogramming (> $1 million or 10%), new programs, and arm sales.
Rescinds $3.55 billion in prior-year unobligated balances (e.g., $1.3 billion from Development Assistance).

Title VIII: Additional General Provision
Establishes a $0 Spending Reduction Account.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Rescissions: Permanently rescinds $3.55 billion from prior-year unobligated balances across accounts (e.g., $775 million from Consular Programs, $1.3 billion from Development Assistance), reducing carryover funds but exempting emergency-designated amounts.
New Funds and Authorities: Creates the America First Opportunity Fund ($1.7 billion) for crisis response and countering threats; extends loan guarantees for Israel to 2031; authorizes combat casualty care training in military aid packages.
Restrictions and Prohibitions: Bans funding for UNRWA, certain U.N. bodies (e.g., Human Rights Council), and DEI programs per executive orders; prohibits aid supporting Belt and Road Initiative or Chinese technology unless vetted for security; reinforces Mexico City Policy on abortions.
Oversight Enhancements: Mandates third-party monitoring for Gaza aid; requires certifications for direct government aid (e.g., anti-corruption steps); extends partner vetting for trafficking risks.
Extensions: Continues authorities like the Countering Russian Influence Fund ($300 million) and Global Health Security programs; updates fiscal transparency requirements for aid recipients.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: The Department of State receives core operational funding but faces rescissions and reprogramming limits, potentially straining prior commitments. Treasury and export agencies gain flexibility for loans/guarantees, aiding U.S. economic interests. Inspectors General get additional audit funds (e.g., $1.4 million for Gaza/West Bank).
Citizens: U.S. taxpayers benefit from rescissions and efficiency mandates (e.g., unobligated balance reports); global health/family planning restrictions may limit overseas reproductive services. Domestic impacts include prohibitions on funding certain cultural/educational programs (e.g., drag events).
International Relations: Bolsters alliances (e.g., $3.3 billion FMF for Israel, $1.65 billion for Jordan) while restricting aid to adversaries (e.g., no funds for Russia, China governments). Humanitarian aid ($5 billion) supports refugees but with Gaza-specific oversight to prevent diversion. Peacekeeping and nonproliferation funding enhances U.S. influence in U.N. but withholds from biased entities, potentially straining multilateral ties.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Government Entities: Department of State (primary recipient), USAID, Treasury, Peace Corps, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Export-Import Bank, and Development Finance Corporation; Inspectors General for oversight.
Foreign Governments and Entities: Allies like Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Taiwan, Ukraine (increased aid); restricted nations (e.g., Cuba, Iran, Russia, China) face aid cuts; Central American countries (e.g., El Salvador, Guatemala) tied to migration/cooperation benchmarks.
International Organizations: U.N. agencies (e.g., peacekeeping, IAEA) receive funds with conditions; prohibitions on UNRWA and Human Rights Council limit support.
Non-Governmental and Private Sector: NGOs implementing aid (e.g., for democracy, health); U.S. businesses via export financing; women's groups benefiting from $160 million empowerment fund.
U.S. Citizens and Communities: Indirectly affected through foreign policy (e.g., counter-terrorism, health security) and taxpayer savings from rescissions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Aligns with executive orders (e.g., on DEI, abortion, environmental agreements) and statutes like the Foreign Assistance Act; reinforces anti-trafficking (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) and nonproliferation laws. Rescissions comply with Impoundment Control Act by targeting unobligated funds. Gaza/West Bank provisions enhance accountability under anti-terrorism financing rules (e.g., no aid to Hamas-linked entities).
Constitutional: Supports Article I spending power with congressional oversight (e.g., notifications, waivers for national security); avoids impinging on executive foreign affairs authority by allowing waivers (e.g., for coups, defaults).
Political: Reflects partisan priorities: prioritizes "America First" (e.g., countering China/Russia, Israel aid) while cutting multilateral/unrestricted programs; rescissions signal fiscal conservatism. Potential for partisan disputes over aid restrictions (e.g., family planning, U.N. funding) and Gaza oversight amid ongoing conflicts. May influence 2026 elections by addressing migration, security, and aid efficiency.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26]

Recent Actions

2025-07-25: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 177.
2025-07-25: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-217, by Mr. Diaz-Balart.
2025-07-25: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-217, by Mr. Diaz-Balart.

Bill Versions

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2025-07-25 — PDF (246 pages)