H.Res. 199 is a resolution condemning what its sponsors characterize as wasteful foreign aid programs. The resolution lists approximately $240 million in State Department and USAID grants since 2021 that funded cultural, educational, and advocacy initiatives abroad, including programs related to LGBTQ+ issues, diversity training, and cultural events in countries like Guatemala, Iraq, Serbia, and others. The resolution does not directly change any laws or spending but instead calls for congressional action, including a Government Accountability Office audit of all State Department and USAID grants since 2021, mandatory public disclosure of all grants within 90 days, suspension of similar discretionary grants pending review, and a proposal to require congressional approval for future grants over $10,000. The resolution also recommends capping cultural exchange and advocacy grants at 0.1 percent of the federal discretionary budget and redirecting savings to domestic priorities like infrastructure and veteran healthcare.
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