Kaine & Young Introduce Bill to Empower State Department and USAID to Counter People’s Republic of China, Other Threats

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Fully Funding Our National Security Priorities Act to empower the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by requiring the State Department and USAID to submit an annual unfunded priorities list (UPL) to Congress. The legislation recognizes the State Department and USAID’s roles as key national security agencies. It also acknowledges that underinvesting in diplomatic and development programs undercuts the U.S.’s ability to effectively counter the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which is rapidly expanding its global diplomatic presence.

“China is rapidly expanding its diplomatic footprint around the world. Now is not the time to cut resources at the State Department and USAID. We should be doing the exact opposite,” said Kaine. “I’m introducing this legislation to empower the State Department and USAID and provide a clearer picture to Congress of where we need to allocate resources to ensure we can effectively respond to emerging threats and global challenges.”

“Diplomacy is a critical component of America’s national security. Our legislation will require the State Department to provide additional transparency about its long-term priorities and planning. This bill will encourage more collaboration between the State Department and Congress to help ensure taxpayer dollars are being allocated to pressing national security needs, such as countering the Chinese Communist Party,” said Young.

Specifically, the Fully Funding Our National Security Priorities Act would require the U.S. Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to submit an annual report to Congress on the unfunded programs, activities, and mission requirements within the U.S. Department of State and USAID. Every year, the military services and intelligence community submit unfunded priorities lists to Congress as part of the annual budget process.

The State Department and USAID are not fully funded. The State Department is chronically understaffed with a 13% average staffing gap. A 2023 State Department report identified an over $41 billion gap between the resources made available to the State Department and USAID and the resources required to effectively combat the PRC.

Kaine and Young also filed the bill as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

The bill is endorsed by American Academy of Diplomacy and American Foreign Service Association.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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