Reading the FY2027 State Department Budget

Federal appropriations can seem like a black box. The President's Budget goes in, and totally different things come out of the House and Senate. Explaining the process was always one of my favorite jobs at State, and with FY27 planning in full swing, I wanted to offer a quick walkthrough of what the State Department's budget might look like in the fall.

I've charted a couple of things out for you at Reading the FY2027 State Department Budget.

The levels. The first chart shows the President's request and the House levels, with FY25 and FY26 enacted for comparison. The House lands somewhere between the enacted years and the request, though there are some notable differences — all highlighted in the second chart on the site.

The structure. The next one maps how the account structure changed, with State absorbing USAID functions de facto and a major restructuring of the old development assistance and economic support accounts. If a familiar account seems to have disappeared, this chart shows where it went.

The rules. Finally, there is a run-down of several management provisions — how the two versions treat reorganization, evaluation, and control of funds. Are there any surprises? You'll have to click to find out.

I'll update the page after the Senate passes its markup.

— Paul