FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Keeps America Safe and Confronts Global Challenges

As the President delivers results for the American people at home, he has also taken action to restore American leadership on the world stage—leading with America’s values, working in lockstep with America’s allies and partners, investing in the Nation’s military edge, and addressing the most significant challenges and opportunities before us. In the early years of what will be a decisive decade, America is better positioned than any Nation on earth to expand and preserve democratic values and prosperity in the 21st Century.  

Under the President’s leadership, America has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty against Russia’s brutal invasion. The Administration has reinvigorated crucial partnerships, fostered democracy and economic prosperity, advanced global health, furthered gender equality around the world, invested in our immigration system, and strengthened America’s military. The Budget builds on this progress through proposals to continue outcompeting China, confronting threats to global security and strengthening our military, and addressing pressing global challenges. 

Outcompetes China Globally

• Invests in New Ways to Out-Compete China. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the United States’ only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it. In response to these unprecedented and extraordinary challenges, the Budget requests resources to out-compete China and advance American prosperity globally. The Budget supports a new $6 billion mandatory proposal to strengthen the U.S. role in the Indo-Pacific and to advance the U.S. economy, which will allow the U.S. to focus on the following new and critical investments to: make transformative, high-quality, and sustainable infrastructure investments while countering predatory PRC financingbyoffering countries a positive alternative, which will simultaneously expand markets and opportunities for U.S. businesses; create a new U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s equity revolving fund to support highly developmental investments to empower early and growth-stage companies from low and lower-middle income countries that would otherwise not be able to take on debt; and make game-changing investments in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen economies and support our partners in pushing back against exploitative PRC efforts.

• Renews the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) with the Freely Associated States (FAS) of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Strong ties between the United States and the Pacific Islands, individually and collectively, form the foundation of our engagement in the Pacific. To maintain our status as a committed partner of choice in the Pacific, we must enhance our enduring relationships, especially with FAS, with whom we have a special and historical bond. The FY 2024 Budget requests a total of $7.1 billion in mandatory funds over 20 years to support the COFA.

• Deepens Alliances and Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. The Budget builds on our discretionary investments to include over $2.3 billion for the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the Indo-Pacific and our partners in the region.As we focus our efforts to “invest, align, and compete” with China, an expanded investment in the region is essential to demonstrate to partner nations around the globe that our commitment to support them is unwavering. The Administration plans dedicated, flexible Foreign Military Financing funding, with a priority on assistance to the Indo-Pacific and greater use of lending authority where tomorrow’s rising deterrence needs require large investments financed today.

• Promotes Integrated Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Globally. The Budget prioritizes China as America’s pacing challenge in line with the 2022 National Defense Strategy. The Department of Defense’s (DOD) 2024 Pacific Deterrence Initiative highlights $9.1 billion of targeted investments the Department is making to U.S. force posture, infrastructure, presence, and readiness as well as efforts to bolster the capacity and capabilities of U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily west of the International Date Line. The Budget continues to increase DOD’s security cooperation funding planned for the Indo-Pacific region, focused on building capacity across a range of areas, to include domain awareness, logistics, cybersecurity, and command and control. The Budget also supports investments to accelerate critical weapons and munitions production lines; develop capabilities like long-range strike, undersea, hypersonic, and autonomous systems; and increase resiliency of our space architectures—all of which support the Department’s efforts to align investments with policies and activities that will sustain and strengthen deterrence.

Confronts Threats to Global Security

• Supports Ukraine, European Allies, and Partners. The Budget continues support for Ukraine, the United States’ strong alliance with the states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and other European partner states by prioritizing funding to enhance the capabilities and readiness of U.S. forces, NATO allies, and regional partners in the face of continued Russian aggression.

• Counters Persistent Threats. While focused on maintaining robust deterrence against China and Russia, the Budget also enables DOD to counter other persistent threats including those posed by North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations.

• Modernizes the Nuclear Deterrent. The Budget provides $37.7 billion for DOD to maintain a strong nuclear deterrent as a foundational aspect of integrated deterrence for the security of the Nation and U.S. allies. The Budget supports the U.S. nuclear triad, NATO strategic deterrence, and the necessary ongoing nuclear modernization programs, to include the nuclear command, control, and communication networks. The Budget also provides $23.8 billion to the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration to make historic investments in the Nation’s nuclear security enterprise to implement the President’s Nuclear Posture Review (NPR); support a safe, secure, and effective nuclear stockpile; reduce nuclear risks; and provide nuclear power to the U.S. Navy.

• Advances U.S. Cybersecurity. The Budget continues to invest in cybersecurity programs recognizing that cybersecurity is essential to the basic functioning of our economy, the operation of our critical infrastructure, the strength of our democracy and democratic institutions, the privacy of our data and communications, and our national security. The recently signed National Cybersecurity Strategy details a comprehensive approach to better secure cyberspace and ensure the United States is in the strongest possible position to seize all the benefits and potential of our digital future. The Budget requests more than $395 million to advance global cyber and digital development initiatives, including the Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, USAID’s Digital Strategy, Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) digital connectivity efforts, and regional initiatives such as Digital Transformation with Africa.

• Strengthens Democracy and Promotes Human Rights Globally. The Budget provides more than $3.4 billion to advance democratic governance and foster democratic renewal globally. The Budget would strengthen free and independent media, fight corruption, bolster democratic institutions, advance technology for democracy, promote gender equality and women’s civic and political participation, and defend free and fair elections and political processes. Within this total, the Budget includes $345 million for the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, as well as $25 million for the President’s new African Democratic and Political Transitions (ADAPT) initiative, as well as targeted increases for “bright spot” countries experiencing democratic opportunities.

Addresses Pressing Global Challenges

• Reinforces Collective Action to Address Global Challenges. The Budget fully meets U.S. annual contributions to international organizations and pays current UN peacekeeping dues on time and in full. The Budget also proposes increases for key opportunities to advance U.S. interests and compete with adversaries, including by strengthening collective security through NATO and bolstering U.S. leadership at the UN by beginning to pay down past arrears, synchronizing $40 million in annual contributions, providing $150 million to support a U.S. return to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and contributing $57 million to support the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The Budget also requests nearly $2.3 billion for contributions to multilateral development banks, maintaining the United States’ role as the largest World Bank donor to support poverty reduction and development in low- and middle-income countries. This includes a $1.4 billion investment in the International Development Association (IDA), as part of the United States’ pledge of $3.5 billion in support of the most recent IDA replenishment.

• Advances the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). The Budget supports more than $50 billion to support PGII, a values-driven, high-impact, and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet the enormous infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries and support the United States’ and our allies’ economic and national security interests. PGII leverages public and private finance to advance climate and energy security, health and health security, digital connectivity, gender equity and equality, and related transportation infrastructure—all while creating opportunities for American businesses globally.

• Increases Global Energy Security, Infrastructure, and Resilience. The Budget supports the President’s pledges to more than quadruple international climate finance and to provide more than $3 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE). This includes a $1.6 billion contribution to the Green Climate Fund and a $1.2 billion loan to the Clean Technology Fund. The Budget also advances new tools, such as loan guarantees, to re-assert U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific to finance energy security and infrastructure projects and reduce reliance on volatile energy supplies and prices.

• Bolsters American Leadership in Global Health. The Budget includes $10.9 billion through State and USAID to reinforce U.S. leadership in addressing global health and health security challenges, including $1.25 billion to prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, of which $500 million supports the Pandemic Fund to catalyze and accelerate improvements to global health security and pandemic preparedness. The Budget also invests dedicated funds for the Administration’s Global Health Worker Initiative to enhance global efforts to better train, equip, and protect the health workforce—which would strengthen countries’ ability to provide core health services and respond to crises. The Budget increases investments in high-impact and lifesaving voluntary family planning and reproductive health programs to address significant unmet global need for these services. The Budget sustains U.S. leadership in the Global Fund’s historic seventh replenishment, providing $2 billion for the second year of a $6 billion, three-year pledge to save lives and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

• Advances Gender Equality Around the World. The Budget provides more than $3 billion to advance gender equity and equality globally, consistent with the Administration’s steadfast commitment to invest in opportunities for women and girls, including the LGBTQI+ community. The Budget includes funding to respond to and prevent gender-based violence, advance women’s economic empowerment, and strengthen the participation of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery.

• Bolsters Hemispheric Economic Investment and Migration Management Efforts. In support of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, the Budget invests $430 million for hemispheric migration management. This assistance would bolster stability for affected communities, enhance legal pathways and protection in the hemisphere, and strengthen humane border management throughout the region. The Budget proposes more than $50 million for a new regional economic opportunity fund, the Americas Partnership Opportunity Fund, to support partner countries in the region. The Budget also requests up to $40 million for the Global Concessional Financing Facility to support programs aimed at improving the lives of migrants and refugees in the Western Hemisphere. The Budget includes $75 million for the Inter-American Development Bank’s IDB Invest to increase private sector investment in the Americas.

• Creates Opportunities in Central America and Haiti. The Budget requests more than $1 billion to advance the President’s commitment to work with Congress to provide $4 billion over four years to address the root causes of migration and improve the lives of people in Central America. Assistance would bolster localization efforts, enhance the rule of law, and support economic growth for all segments of society. Further, in response to deteriorating conditions and widespread violence in Haiti, the Budget invests $291 million to strengthen Haiti’s recovery from political, health, and economic shocks, such as strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police, combating corruption, strengthening the capacity of civil society, responding to health emergencies and health needs, and supporting services for marginalized populations.

• Sustains U.S. Leadership on Refugee and Humanitarian Issues, Including Addressing Food Insecurity. The Budget requests more than $10.5 billion to respond to the persisting needs of the world’s most vulnerable, including those arising from conflict and natural disasters. The Budget supports the United States’ revitalized refugee admissions program, including the resettlement of up to 125,000 refugees and related efforts, such as Uniting for Ukraine. In addition, the Budget supports the President’s pledge to alleviate global food insecurity by providing nearly $1.2 billion in bilateral agriculture and food security programming.

• Protects Afghan Allies. The Budget supports Enduring Welcome (EW), the whole-of-government effort to continue to welcome our Afghan allies who stood with us during the twenty-year war in Afghanistan. Through Enduring Welcome, the U.S. government is expeditiously processing expeditiously process the applications of our Afghan allies, such as Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) candidates, and family reunification cases, and assisting them as they come to the United States—while simultaneously safeguarding national security. The Budget fully supports implementation of EW by leveraging Department of State balances estimated to enable more than $2 billion in support in 2024 and by proposing a substantial increase to the number of SIVs available for Afghan allies.

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