Booker, Collins Urge OMB, State Department to Reverse Funding Cuts for 21 Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) called on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore congressionally approved fiscal year 2025 (FY25) funding for 21 Department of State educational and cultural exchange programs. These programs were fully funded in the final FY25 appropriations legislation, have an agreed upon FY25 spend plan with the Administration, and have longstanding bipartisan support in Congress.

"The educational and cultural exchange programs funded through the Bureau of Education andCultural Affairs (ECA) advance U.S. national security, strengthen economic competitiveness,

and reinforce democratic values-all of which are core pillars of U.S. foreign policy and essential to the Administration's foreign policy agenda. These programs are proven and cost-effective ways to strengthen U.S. global leadership and credibility, promote American values worldwide, and contribute to the safety, security, and prosperity of our country and the American people," the Senators wrote.

"Quite simply, international exchanges are one of the best returns on investment spent across the entire federal budget: 90% of exchange funding is spent on Americans or inside the United States. Additionally, U.S.-funded exchanges leverage millions more in private and international government contributions," the Senators continued.

"Predictable and timely release of appropriated funding is essential to ensure these programsfunction as intended and maintain rigorous selection processes, adequate support infrastructure, and global reach. The cancelation of these programs undermines long-standing partnerships, harms U.S. credibility and leadership abroad, and wastes taxpayer dollars," the Senators continued.

Senators Booker and Collins request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the State Department take immediate action to release all FY25 Congressionally appropriated funds for these critical programs without further delay:

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)

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)

To read the full text of the letter, click here.