U.S. Security Assistance and Security Cooperation Programs: Overview of Funding Trends

February 1, 2018 (R45091)
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Tables

Appendixes

Summary

Since FY2006, the United States government has provided more than $200 billion for programs providing security assistance and security cooperation to foreign countries. The Departments of State (DOS) and Defense (DOD) are the primary U.S. government agencies involved in providing security sector assistance and related support to foreign governments, militaries, and international organizations and groups.

Congress has authorized security assistance programs through the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA, P.L. 87-195) and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (AECA, P.L. 90-629), as amended. Assistance provisions, including those for security assistance, in the FAA and the AECA have since been codified in Title 22 of the U.S. Code, and funds for security assistance are regularly appropriated through DOS accounts. Beginning in the 1980s, Congress also provided DOD with authority to conduct security cooperation programs under Title 10 of the U.S. Code and annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs), as well as funding through defense appropriations. Cooperation between the two agencies to provide security sector assistance depends on statutory authority, applicable executive directives, and other established policy arrangements.

With the 115th Congress considering legislation designed to fund and improve U.S. security assistance and security cooperation programs, this report provides funding data, top country recipients, and major funding accounts for Title 22 security assistance programs and major Title 10 and NDAA security cooperation authorities and programs. It may be updated as information and funding data are available. For further background on U.S. security assistance and cooperation policies, see


U.S. Security Assistance and Security Cooperation Programs: Overview of Funding Trends

Introduction

U.S. security sector assistance to foreign countries is funded primarily in the foreign affairs and defense budgets. As the 115th Congress considers its spending priorities for the coming fiscal year, the magnitude, trends, and uses of such assistance may be examined and debated. The Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations; the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); and the Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations all contain provisions that could affect security assistance funding in FY2018 and beyond. While the Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are the primary actors in the provision of such assistance to foreign countries—and the primary focus of this CRS report―other U.S. agencies may also conduct related programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); the Departments of Energy (DOE), Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), and the Treasury; and parts of the intelligence community.

With the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA, P.L. 87-195) and later the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (AECA, P.L. 90-629), as amended, Congress established the foundational authorities for contemporary U.S. security assistance programs. These authorities charged the Secretary of State with responsibility to provide "continuous supervision and general direction" of foreign assistance and contained specific reference to "military assistance, including military education and training," to ensure its coherence with foreign policy. Over time, the Secretary of State's security assistance authorities expanded to include international narcotics control, peacekeeping operations, antiterrorism assistance, and nonproliferation and export control assistance. The State Department's authorities were codified in Title 22 of the U.S. Code (Foreign Relations and Intercourse), and funds for such assistance programs are largely appropriated through State Department accounts. Such assistance to foreign governments, security forces, and militaries covers a wide spectrum of activities, including the transfer of conventional arms, training and equipping regular and irregular forces for combat, law enforcement training, defense institution reform, humanitarian assistance, and engagement and educational activities. These activities may serve multiple purposes for both the United States and the recipient country.

DOD has long played a crucial role in the implementation of Title 22 security assistance programs and activities, but for many decades, it otherwise relegated the training, equipping, and assisting of foreign military forces as a secondary mission on its list of priorities, far below war-fighting.1 Beginning in the 1980s, Congress began providing DOD with additional authority in Title 10 of the U.S. Code and annual NDAAs to conduct a range of programs and activities funded by DOD appropriations. Congress began providing such authorities in the 1980s for counternarcotics and humanitarian assistance; authority for nonproliferation and counterterrorism programs was subsequently added in the 1980s and 1990s.

In recent years, the international security environment, and the associated perceived threats to the United States homeland, has led DOD increasingly to give greater priority to building and strengthening security partnerships in a variety of contexts around the world. Particularly since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress has granted DOD new authorities in annual NDAAs and in Title 10 (Armed Services) of the U.S. Code to engage in "security cooperation" with foreign militaries and other security forces—now considered by DOD to be an "important tool" for executing its national security responsibilities and "an integral element of the DOD mission."2 This trend underlies a significant expansion of DOD direct engagements with foreign security forces and an accompanying increase in DOD's role in foreign policy decisionmaking. As the United States undertook military action and increased the scope of its foreign counterterrorism operations, Congress provided a number of DOD crisis and wartime authorities, some providing new global authority and some specific to certain geographic areas.3

In enacting these new authorities and appropriations, Congress has bolstered an expanding global DOD role in building foreign partner capacity through programs to train and equip foreign security forces, notably in the realms of counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and defense institution building. In addition, DOD is authorized to carry out various security cooperation and logistical support activities, as well as advise and assist missions that may have the added impact of boosting partner country capabilities. DOD's security cooperation authorities were most recently and significantly modified in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (P.L. 114-328; signed December 23, 2016), which enacted several new provisions that modify the budgeting, execution, administration, and evaluation of DOD security cooperation programs and activities. Implementation of these provisions remains a work in progress.

The expansion of DOD's engagement with foreign partner militaries over the past decade has both policy and budgetary implications. These include the overall size and scope of U.S. security assistance activities worldwide, the geographic distribution of such activities, and the relative influence of DOS and DOD in interagency security policymaking processes. Another implication relates to congressional committees of jurisdiction, as primary oversight and funding prerogatives have progressively extended and migrated from foreign relations to defense authorizers and appropriators. Yet, challenges continue to exist in the development of consistent interagency action and terminology to describe the range of security assistance and cooperation programs and activities funded by the U.S. government.

Moreover, funding data for security assistance and data on historical security assistance funding are incomplete. Although DOS has long been required to track most security assistance funding by aid account and on an individual country basis, DOD has not. As a result, comparisons between security assistance funding provided by both departments are challenging, and totaling the two may leave gaps.4

The 115th Congress is continuing scrutiny and debate on security assistance matters. Within the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs FY2018 budget request, the Administration is seeking to reduce international security assistance by about $2.3 billion, or 24.4%. Each of the security assistance programs would be reduced by amounts ranging from 9% to more than 54%. In addition, the Administration proposes making changes to security assistance programs, such as designating 95% of the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program to four countries. The remaining 5% of the funds, rather than being made available on a grant basis globally as FMF is currently implemented, would be made available to all other countries with a combination of grant and loan assistance to be coordinated with DOD. Congress is also debating a possible increase of Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds for defense and nondefense, including for funding security assistance activities in FY2018.5

Currently, there is no DOD budget request for security cooperation programs and activities that is comparable to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs FY2018 budget request for State Department-managed security assistance accounts. Soon, however, this may change; Section 1249 of the FY2017 NDAA added a new section to Title 10 of the U.S. Code, requiring the President, beginning with the FY2019 budget, to submit a formal, consolidated budget request for all DOD's security cooperation efforts, including the military departments and, as practicable, by country or region and by authority.

For further background on U.S. security assistance and cooperation policies, see CRS Report R44444, Security Assistance and Cooperation: Shared Responsibility of the Departments of State and Defense; CRS Report R44602, DOD Security Cooperation: An Overview of Authorities and Issues; CRS Report R44313, What Is "Building Partner Capacity?" Issues for Congress; and CRS In Focus IF10582, Security Cooperation Issues: FY2017 NDAA Outcomes.

Security Assistance Funding Trends Overview

Based on DOS and DOD funding data, the U.S. government has provided at least $204.6 billion to provide security assistance and cooperation to allied countries abroad between FY2006 and FY2016. In that timeframe, DOD funded approximately $115.4 billion in security cooperation activities worldwide, averaging $10.5 billion annually, while the State Department funded approximately $89.2 billion in security assistance worldwide, averaging $8.1 billion annually. Overall funding peaked in FY2011, when a total of $21.6 billion was obligated, largely due to the surge in support activities in Afghanistan. Security assistance funding managed by DOS peaked at $9.4 billion in FY2015 because of increased funds to counter the Islamic State terrorist organization and security aid to the Middle East. For DOD, funding peaked at $12.8 billion in FY2008, with funding increases for Afghanistan and Iraq security.

After adjusting for inflation, the constant dollar total trend line illustrates the same peaks and troughs as the current dollar trend. However, it illustrates a general decline overall in recent years as compared with the funding levels of earlier years―FY2006-FY2012 funding levels (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Security Assistance Funding Trends, FY2006-FY2017 Request

Source: For DOS FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017. For DOD data, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html; DOD Budget Justification Materials, (http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials)

Note: Inflation-adjusted Total (constant dollars) were calculated using the 2017 GDP price index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the July 2017 Congressional Budget Office data and projections.


In the past decade, DOD has typically obligated a larger portion of overall security cooperation funding compared to DOS, though State obligated nearly half of U.S. security assistance funding in FY2013, FY2014, and FY2016. The highest share of DOD obligations occurred in FY2007 (61%) and FY2008 (63%). (See Figure 2 below.)

Figure 2. DOS and DOD Security Assistance and Cooperation Funding: Annual Proportions, FY2006-FY2017 (req.)

(Proportions based on current U.S. dollar data)

Source: For DOS FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017. For DOD data, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html; DOD Budget Justification Materials, http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

Top Recipients

In FY2016 (the most recent year for which complete country allocations are available), the top 10 recipients of U.S. security assistance and cooperation accounted for $7.8 billion (45%) of the combined funding provided by DOS and DOD for that year. Figure 3 illustrates the dollar amount and share of the top 10 recipients of U.S. security assistance and cooperation.

Figure 3. Top 10 Recipients of DOS/DOD Security Assistance and Cooperation Programs, FY2016

Source: For DOS information, email communication on September 20, 2017, from State's Legislative Affairs office. For DOD information, email communication from Defense Office of Legislative Affairs on September 19, 2017.

Note: DOD funding includes train and equip activities and Defense Security Cooperation Agency's (DSCA's) Coalition Support Fund (CSF) account, but not counternarcotics. DOS funding does not include regional funding that goes to multiple countries. See Table 1 and Table 2 below for included accounts.

Of the $7.8 billion that went to the top 10 recipients in FY2016, Israel had the largest share at 40%, followed by Egypt at 17%, Afghanistan at 10%, and Iraq at 9%. Combined, Israel and Egypt received 57% of the top 10 share. The amount of FY2016 security assistance and cooperation funding for Pakistan is $533 million; it had been more than double that level as recently as FY2011, when it was $1.3 billion; Pakistan is the sixth-largest recipient of U.S. security assistance and cooperation funds in FY2016 with 6% of the $7.8 billion.

Key Accounts

The top five DOS/DOD appropriations accounts through which security assistance has been funded from FY2006 to the FY2017 request are Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF), Foreign Military Financing (FMF), International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE), Iraq Security Forces Fund (ISFF), and Coalition Support Funds (CSF). (See Figure 4.)

Figure 4. Top Five DOS/DOD Security Assistance and Cooperation Accounts, FY2006 to FY2017 Request

Summation of Annual Data in Millions of Current U.S. Dollars

Source: For DOS FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017. For DOD data, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html; DOD Budget Justification Materials, http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

Notes: ASFF=Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; FMF=Foreign Military Financing; INCLE=International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; ISFF=Iraq Security Forces Fund; and CSF=Coalition Support Funds. For program descriptions, see Appendix A and Appendix B.

Figure 5 and Figure 6 show a comparison of the top-ranking DOS and DOD accounts for FY2016 compared with the FY2017 request. FMF is the highest-funded account for both years. Other top accounts include ASFF, INCLE, CSF, and the Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF).

Figure 5. Top DOS/DOD Security Assistance and Cooperation Accounts, FY2016 estimate

(In millions of Current U.S. Dollars)

Figure 6. Top DOS/DOD Security Assistance and Cooperation Accounts, FY2017 request

(In millions of Current U.S. Dollars)

Source: For DOS FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017. For DOD data, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html; DOD Budget Justification Materials, http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

Notes: FMF=Foreign Military Financing; ASFF=Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; INCLE=International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; CSF=Coalition Support Funds; CTPF=Counterterrorism Partnership Fund; ERI=European Reassurance Initiative. For program descriptions, see Appendix A and Appendix B.

State Department and USAID Security Assistance Funding Levels

DOS and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) security assistance programs are authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA, P.L. 87-195) and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (AECA, P.L. 90-629), as amended, and codified in Title 22 of the U.S. Code. Congress appropriates a significant amount of security assistance funding within the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations. Although funds are appropriated to the State Department or USAID, some of the programs themselves are administered by DOD under the direction and oversight of the Secretary of State. For program descriptions, see Appendix A. State Department security assistance program obligations for the past 10 years are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. U.S. Department of State (DOS)/Agency for International Development (USAID): Security Assistance Program Funding, FY2006-FY2015 Obligations, FY2016 Estimate, and FY2017 Request

(In millions of current U.S. dollars)

Program

FY06

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16 est.

FY17 req.

INCLE

396.9

712.9

1,296.1

2,158.9

2,613.3

2,624.6

2,136.3

1,047.5

2,076.6

2,345.4

1,790.0

1,141.0

NADR

368.7

355.7

393.5

505.4

681.8

579.4

691.1

578.9

551.0

417.0

825.0

750.0

PKO

246.6

651.3

449.1

553.0

361.1

298.9

572.0

573.4

370.7

540.3

500.0

300.0

ACI

1,525.3

479.6

739.8

532.8

276.3

0.6

6.1

6.5

10.2

2.0

2.0

2.0

IMET

84.8

83.4

82.9

90.1

108.0

105.8

103.3

99.2

103.8

109.3

108.1

110.3

FMF

4,449.9

4,518.8

4,506.9

4,579.9

5,017.4

5,320.0

5,210.0

4,956.0

4,096.6

5,909.3

5,129.0

5,129.0

PCCF

424.0

19.0

GSCF

27.0

70.0

60.0

50.0

Total

7,072.2

6,801.7

7,468.3

8,420.1

9,057.9

8,929.3

8,718.8

7,685.5

7,235.9

9,393.3

8,433.1

7,482.3

Source: For FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017.

Notes: INCLE = International Narcotics and Law Enforcement; NADR = Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; PKO = Peacekeeping Operations; ACI = Andean Counterdrug Initiative; IMET = International Military Education and Training; FMF = Foreign Military Financing (FMF); PCCF = Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund; GSCF = Global Security Contingency Fund. For program descriptions, see Appendix A.

Top DOS Security Assistance Accounts and Recipient Countries

Of the security assistance accounts within the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs since FY2006, FMF is the largest, with typically 55%-65% of annual DOS security assistance funding. INCLE follows with about 20%-30% of State's security assistance funding. In FY2016, FMF and INCLE represent more than 80% of all DOS security assistance obligated that year. (See annual funding for the five major DOS security assistance accounts in Figure 7.)

Figure 7. U.S. Department of State (DOS)/Agency for International Development (USAID) Leading Security Assistance Program Funding, FY2006-FY2015 Obligations, FY2016 Estimate, and FY2017 Request

Source: For FY2006-FY2015 data: USAID Foreign Assistance Database, prepared by USAID Economic Analysis and Data Services, April 5, 2017. For PCCF, GSCF, FY2016 estimate, and FY2017 request: the Budget of the U.S. Government, Appendix, Fiscal Years FY2015-2017.

Notes: ACI = Andean Counterdrug Initiative; PKO = Peacekeeping Operations; NADR = Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; INCLE = International Narcotics and Law Enforcement; and FMF = Foreign Military Financing. For program descriptions, see Appendix A.

Israel and Egypt are the top recipients of DOS security assistance, accounting for 52% of State's security assistance obligations in FY2016. FMF accounted for all of the $3.1 billion to Israel and $1.3 billion of the U.S. security assistance to Egypt (see Figure 8).

Figure 8. Top 10 Recipients of State Department Security Assistance, FY2016

Source: For DOS information, email communication on September 20, 2017, from State's Legislative Affairs office.

Department of Defense Security Cooperation Funding Levels

DOD security cooperation programs are authorized by Title 10 of the U.S. Code and provisions in NDAAs. Not all Title 10 and NDAA authorities have funding levels specified by authorization and/or appropriations legislation.6 Funding for some security cooperation authorities may be incorporated into a larger budget category or simply drawn from the defense-wide operations and maintenance budget.7 As a result, accurate accounting of DOD funding levels for all security cooperation programs and activities, in addition to comparison of funding data between the two agencies, remains a challenge. Table 2 provides 10-year obligations data for a majority of significant security cooperation authorities and programs. Table 3 reflects DOD's approximations of counternarcotics support to foreign countries, including both base and OCO funds. DOD funding for foreign counternarcotics support peaked in FY2010, largely due to additional commitments to combat Afghanistan's opium cultivation and opiate trafficking.

Table 2. Department of Defense Security Cooperation Authorities/Programs, FY2006-FY2015 Obligations, FY2016 Appropriations, FY2017 Request or Estimate

(In millions of current U.S. dollars)

Program

FY06

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY17 Req. or Estimate

ASFFa

1,687.2

3,378.4

5,999.5

5,749.6

6,123.7

9,374.4

8,361.4

5,987.3

4,329.2

5,821.7

3,652.3

3,448.7

AIFa,b

 

 

 

 

 

93.1

196.0

254.5

101.3

132.9

176.00

122.93

CERPc

805.8

895.0

1,344.6

889.7

699.5

426.0

117.1

43.5

6.5

3.7

5.00

5.00

CTRa,d

454.9

370.6

425.9

427.8

421.3

515.5

473.7

425.1

558.7

360.7

358.5

325.6

CCIFe

28.2

47.3

45.1

42.6

35.3

43.4

1.6

8.7

3.3

2.2

15.0

15.0

CTPFf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

586.9

1,100.0

1,000.0

ERIf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

752.5

789.3

3,419.7

ITEFa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

966.6

715.0

630.0

ISFFa,g

4,921.4

3,825.2

4,091.7

2,514.0

927.6

920.5

1,044.1

 

 

 

24.0

 

Building Capacity of Foreign Security Forcesh

100.3

279.9

271.6

339.7

324.4

233.0

343.8

273.5

323.5

359.3

344.1

270.2

DIRIh

 

 

 

 

5.8

6.5

12.8

11.0

17.9

13.1

12.4

25.6

MODAh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.3

7.5

13.6

10.8

9.2

MSIh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50.0

60.0

RCSSh

68.1

66.6

89.5

98.9

95.2

93.4

86.6

79.1

75.6

70.8

55.7

58.6

CTFPh

19.8

19.9

23.9

33.7

34.5

33.8

32.6

32.0

27.2

27.0

25.6

26.8

USAIh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

250.0

 

WIh

27.6

28.2

24.7

29.1

29.2

28.6

28.4

24.4

29.2

24.0

32.3

21.9

CSF

1,071.5

1,525.0

460.1

671.5

1,807.9

818.7

1,518.9

828.2

1,930.3

1,612.5

1,112.7

 

OCO Lift and Sustain

 

 

 

256.4

360.8

74.3

449.8

449.7

139.7

168.8

131.5

 

Total

9,184.8

10,436.1

12,776.6

11,053.0

10,865.2

12,661.2

12,666.8

8,419.2

7,549.8

10,916.3

8,860.2

9,439.2

Source: Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html), DOD Budget Justification Materials (http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

Notes: Data are current as of the stated reporting dates. Depending on the account status, slight revisions in these data could occur due to reporting adjustments. Italicized figures reflect outlays. For additional information on authorization levels for authorities not presented in the table see Table A-2 of CRS Report R44602, DOD Security Cooperation: An Overview of Authorities and Issues, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

Abbreviations: ASFF = Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; AIF = Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund; CCIF = Combatant Commanders Initiative Fund; CERP = Commander's Emergency Response Program; CSF=Coalition Support Funds; CTPF = Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund; CTR = Cooperative Threat Reduction; ERI = European Reassurance Initiative; CTFP = Regional Defense Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program; DIRI = Defense Institutional Reform Initiative; ISFF = Iraq Security Forces Fund; ITEF = Iraq Train and Equip Fund; MODA = Ministry of Defense Advisors; MSI = Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative; RCSS = Regional Centers for Security Studies USAI = Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; WIF = Wales Initiative Fund.

For program descriptions, see Appendix B.

a. Data for ASFF, AIF, ISFF, ITEF, and CTR are sourced for the end-of-year (September) AR(M) 1002 Appropriation Status by FY Program and Subaccounts execution reports. The Department of Defense (DOD) Budget Execution and Accounting Reports are available on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website at https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html.

b. AIF is an expired authority.

c. Data for CERP are sourced from the Army's Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Budget Request justification materials for Overseas Contingency Operations for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2009- 2015. These documents are available on the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Budget Material public website at http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials. Data for FYs 2006-2008 are sourced from historical execution documentation.

d. Data for FY2006-FY2008 are sourced from the CTR, O&M, Defense-Wide Budget Request justification materials. These documents are available on the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Budget Material public website at http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

e. Data for CCIF are sourced from the Joint Staff O&M, Defense-Wide Budget Request justification materials. These documents are available on the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Budget Material public website at http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

f. Data for ERI and CTPF are sourced from the Overseas Contingency Operations Train and Equip Funds and Accounts Execution Report as of September 30, 2015. The congressional defense committees received this report on January 11, 2016.

g. ISFF is an expired authority that authorized assistance to the Iraqi security forces. (Original legislation: Section 1512, P.L. 110-181 , as amended.)

h. Data are sourced from DSCA, O&M, Defense-wide budget justification materials for FY2006-FY2017.

Table 3. DOD Counterdrug Support to Foreign Countries, FY2006-FY2017 Estimate

In millions of current U.S. dollars

FY06

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY17 est.

548.1

768.4

816.1

878.8

972.6

965.3

691.0

400.1

442.1

382.4

412.5

264.8

Sources: For FY2006-FY2010 data, DOD response to CRS, March 21, 2011; for FY2011-FY2018, DOD drug interdiction and counterdrug activities budget request data on counternarcotics support to foreign countries, provided to CRS annually.

Notes: The data reflect nonbudget quality estimates of DOD counternarcotics support to foreign countries and regions; the DOD drug interdiction and counterdrug activities budget is based on programs, not countries.

Top DOD Security Cooperation Accounts and Recipient Countries

Of the DOD security cooperation accounts in Table 2, Afghanistan Security Forces Fund (ASFF) is the largest, with most years receiving more than 50% of the security cooperation funding, and in FY2011 receiving 74%. Coalition Support Fund (CSF) follows, often between 12%-17% and as much as 26% of the funds. Figure 9 represents the top budget accounts of obligated funds since FY2006. Top recipient countries of DOD security cooperation differ from those of DOS; Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan make up the top DOD country recipients. Figure 10 shows the top defense security cooperation recipients in FY2016. For program descriptions, see Appendix B.

Figure 9. Top Five Department of Defense Security Cooperation Authorities/Programs, FY2006-FY2015 Obligations, FY2016 Appropriations, FY2017 Request or Estimate

Source: Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), https://www.dfas.mil/dodbudgetaccountreports.html; DOD Budget Justification Materials, http://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials.

Note: Excludes DOD counternarcotics funding. FY17* is requested funds.

Obligations data disaggregated for DOD's multiple authorities for providing counternarcotics support to foreign security forces were not available for a comparable timeframe. Some reports required by provisions within NDAAs show allocations or expenditures for security cooperation counternarcotics authorities for some fiscal years.8

Figure 10. Top Recipients of DOD Security Cooperation Funding, FY2016

Source: Email communication from Defense Office of Legislative Affairs on September 19, 2017.

Note: Funding includes train and equip activities and DSCA's Coalition Support Fund (CSF) account. Funding does not include DOD counternarcotics funds.

Selected Issues for Congress

Interagency Terminology

Discussion of military and related assistance to foreign countries is sometimes hindered by a lack of a standard terminology.9 The following terms are frequently used to describe assistance to foreign governments, security services, and militaries:

Security Assistance and Cooperation Funding Transparency

Challenges exist in identifying funding data for security assistance, and data on historical funding are incomplete. Although the State Department has long been required to track most security assistance funding by aid account and on an individual country basis, the Defense Department has not.13 In the latter case, DOD's security cooperation programs and activities were not consistently planned for and budgeted by authority or funding account at the country level; moreover, existing security cooperation authorities may be subject to different congressional notification requirements that may report funding in different formats. As a result, comparisons between security assistance funding provided by both departments have been methodologically fraught.

This report addresses several challenges in securing and analyzing funding information for security sector assistance programs by obtaining obligations over the past decade—the longest historical period for which obligations data are available.14 The report includes obligations data for major DOD security cooperation authorities and programs but not all DOD security cooperation programs.

Prior obstacles to data collection and harmonization between departments on security assistance and cooperation funding may be remedied by provisions of the FY2017 NDAA, which incorporated new or extended existing mechanisms for congressional oversight and public accountability of DOD's security cooperation programs and activities. Beginning with the FY2019 budget, due in 2018, the President is required to submit a formal, consolidated budget request for DOD's security cooperation efforts. Already, DOD is submitting quarterly reports to Congress on the obligation and expenditure of some security cooperation funds. As DOD begins to submit a consolidated security cooperation budget, Congress many consider monitoring DOD's progress in implementing congressional requirements that it more rigorously track security cooperation programs and resources and assess whether funding data provided by DOD will allow for comparisons between agencies and on a per-country basis.

Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Loans

As part of its FY2018 budget proposal, the Trump Administration announced its support for modifications to the structure of some security assistance programs. For example, the Administration proposed shifting some foreign military assistance from grants to loans. Such a change, the Administration argues, would allow "recipients to purchase more American-made weaponry with U.S. assistance, but on a repayable basis."15

To date, Congress has explored the feasibility of transitioning the FMF program from grants to loans. Pursuant to Section 7034(b)(8)(D) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), Congress requested the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to provide a report on the impact of transitioning the FMF from grants to loans.16 The Administration's report, delivered to Congress in August 2017, concluded that although such a transition may theoretically allow some recipients to potentially purchase more U.S.-made defense equipment and services, not all foreign countries may qualify for loans due to budget constraints or other factors. Furthermore, the report notes some FMF recipients may be inclined to seek out loans or other type of assistance under more favorable terms from other countries, such as China or Russia, while others may view the use of loans as a signal of declining U.S. commitment.

In S.Rept. 115-152 accompanying S. 1780, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2018, the Senate Committee on Appropriations concluded it did not support the transition of the FMF program from grants to loans due to lack of study of the Administration's proposal and its unknown impact on U.S. national security interests and on foreign countries receiving U.S. security sector assistance.17 Congress may consider whether a transition to FMS loans would have an effect on the overarching U.S. security sector assistance structure.

State Department Reorganization Plans

In its FY2018 budget proposal, the Trump Administration announced its intention to restructure the use of appropriated funds for diplomatic and development aid and to pursue structural changes at the State Department and USAID. Some Members of Congress have expressed concern about the effects of such a restructuring on U.S. diplomatic and development efforts. The committee reports accompanying the House and Senate versions of the State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations Acts for FY2018 noted that reorganization could improve efficiency and effectiveness, but raised concern that the process not be undertaken with predetermined targets. Other Members of Congress have also expressed their concerns about the Administration's plans and requested additional information about the role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the State Department and USAID reorganization.18 As debates continue, Congress may consider how a State Department reorganization (or realignment) might affect the ability of various bureaus within the department to plan, develop, implement, and coordinate security sector programs.

Implementation of FY2017 NDAA Security Cooperation Provisions

Since December 2016, DOD and State Department officials have begun the process of implementing various provisions under newly established Chapter 16 (Security Cooperation) of Title 10 in U.S. Code. In discussions with CRS, officials have noted that this is a lengthy process, involving several stakeholders, and may take years to be fully realized.

A DOD-State Security Sector Assistance Steering Committee has been established to identify how to best use existing Title 22 and Title 10 authorities in the provision of security sector assistance and ensure that programs are clearly aligned with the core goals of those authorities. A potential hurdle to more efficient coordination identified by both DOD and State Department officials stems from existing budget and planning timelines. Various State Department security assistance and DOD security cooperation programs have dissimilar timelines, posing a challenge for more efficient coordination between activities conducted by the two agencies. For instance, budget planning for the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program is for two out-years, while some DOD authorities are subject to more immediate planning timelines. DOD officials note that discussions are under way to possibly bridge the gap between planning and budget timelines. DOD officials have also identified budget planning and funding challenges resulting from the lack of a central funding account for security cooperation activities. Staffing requirements at both the State Department and DOD also remain in flux. As the State Department and DOD continue to implement various FY2017 NDAA security cooperation authorities, Congress may consider continuing to evaluate the roles and responsibilities of the Departments of State and Defense in the coordination, budgeting, and approval of U.S. security assistance and cooperation programs and activities.

As Congress considers authorization and appropriations legislation for security assistance and cooperation programs and agencies, questions on improving DOS and DOD coordination, cooperation, and data collection may be important for improved oversight going forward.

Appendix A. DOS/USAID Security Assistance Programs19

This appendix describes the security assistance programs funded through the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations:

Appendix B. Major DOD Security Cooperation Authorities/Programs22

This appendix describes DOD security cooperation programs:

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Coordinator, Specialist in Foreign Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in International Crime and Narcotics ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions to this report of [author name scrubbed], formerly an Analyst in Foreign Affairs at the Congressional Research Service. Among other things, he took the lead in research and writing the portions on Department of Defense programs and funding.

Footnotes

1.

CRS Report R44602, DOD Security Cooperation: An Overview of Authorities and Issues, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

2.

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), DOD Policy and Responsibilities Relating to Security Cooperation, Directive 5132.03, October 24, 2008.

3.

For additional information on the evolution of the roles and responsibilities of the State Department and DOD in the provision of security assistance, see CRS Report R44444, Security Assistance and Cooperation: Shared Responsibility of the Departments of State and Defense, by [author name scrubbed].

4.

Not all State Department assistance is easily tracked by recipient country; some countries receive assistance through centrally or regionally managed, multicountry programs, creating challenges for congressional oversight. Appropriators have sought in recent years to require greater country-specific reporting on such aid. Some nongovernmental researchers have sought to compare historical funding data over longer time periods than the time periods contained in this CRS report, suggesting potentially significant long-term shifts in the relative roles of DOS and DOD in security assistance and cooperation funding. See for example, Rose Jackson (Open Society Foundations), Untangling the Web: A Blueprint for Reforming American Security Sector Assistance, January 2017, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/untangling-the-web-20170109.pdf.

5.

Since FY2012, SFOPS and DOD funding has been divided into enduring (regular or base) funds and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds used primarily for war or counterterrorism-related expenditures that do not count against discretionary spending caps imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA, P.L. 112-25). In 2015, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA, P.L. 114-74), which increased discretionary spending limits above previous BCA levels and set higher defense and nondefense OCO minimums for FY2016 and FY2017 to provide budget certainty.

6.

For an overview of current security cooperation authorities, see Defense Institute for Security Cooperation Studies, "Security Cooperation Programs," Fiscal Year 2017.

7.

Congress funds DOD security cooperation activities authorized by the NDAA and Title 10 of the U.S. Code through DOD appropriations. Specific funding sources for authorities may be identified in authorization or appropriations legislation, although not all security cooperation provisions identify either a funding source or stipulate other funding conditions. Some of the DOD funding sources for security cooperation authorities identified in existing authorization or appropriations legislation include, but are not limited to, DOD Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO); DOD O&M, Defense-wide; DOD Interdiction and Counter-drug activities, Defense-wide; DOD O&M, Defense-wide, and available for the DSCA; and DOD O&M, Defense-wide, for OCO and available for DSCA.

8.

Section 1209 of the FY2008 NDAA (P.L. 110-181), as amended, required the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report describing foreign-assistance related programs conducted by DOD through FY2013. Section 1009 of the NDAA (P.L. 112-239), as amended, requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a biannual report to Congress on the use of funds from the Drug Interdiction and Counter-drug Activities account for support to foreign governments. The reports submitted under these provisions provide expenditures and/or allocations for activities under Sections 1033 and 1004. Some reports, however, aggregate the funding data for certain authorities and prevent identifying obligations data for specific authorities.

9.

Some of the terms used by U.S. government officials and defense observers include military assistance, security assistance, security cooperation, security force assistance, train and equip, and building partner capacity. Definitions of the respective terms may be found in legislation, policy and guidance documents, and statements made by U.S. government officials. The lack of standard terminology has implications for oversight over U.S. security assistance programs. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report noted that, according to DOD officials, it is "not feasible" for "DOD to provide the individual program amount and total amount of funding for all DOD security cooperation programs intended to build partner security capabilities due to "(1) the lack of agreed-upon definition and listing of these programs and (2) the difficulty in identifying funding for programs that do not have a direct line of funding." GAO, Building Partner Capacity: Inventory of Department of Defense Security Cooperation and Department of State Security Assistance Efforts, GAO-17-255R, March 24, 2017.

10.

Security assistance is also used as a generic term used throughout the U.S. government to describe assistance provided to foreign military and security forces, regardless of the agency providing that assistance. The annual State Department congressional budget justification (CBJ) identifies six budget accounts under the heading "International Security Assistance," which are commonly referred to as the State Department's security assistance portfolio.

DOD also uses the term security assistance to refer specifically to a group of State Department programs authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA) and Arms Export Control Act (AECA), funded by State Department appropriations and managed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an agency under the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy (OSD)(P).

11.

Section 1241(a), FY2017 NDAA (P.L. 114-328). For the official DOD definition of security cooperation, see DOD Directive 5123.03, "DOD Policy and Responsibilities Relating to Security Cooperation," December 29, 2016.

12.

White House fact sheet, "Fact Sheet: U.S. Security Assistance Policy," April 5, 2013.

13.

Not all State Department assistance is easily tracked by recipient country; some countries receive assistance through centrally or regionally managed, multicountry programs, creating challenges for congressional oversight. Appropriators have sought in recent years to require greater country-specific reporting on such aid.

14.

CRS initially found that not all funding data are reported in the same format, if reported at all, thereby preventing comparison within and between agencies. For instance, the State Department and DOD may express funding information in their respective budget documents and reports as budget authority, total obligational authority, appropriations, allocations, obligations, expenditures, budget estimates, and budget requests. To address such challenges, CRS worked with representatives from the State Department, DOD, and other organizations to identify obligations as a common data format, and secured data for the longest historical period possible through targeted queries of available budget databases.

15.

White House, "America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make American Great Again,"

16.

22 U.S.C. 2763 (Credit Sales) requires the President to charge a minimum interest rate of 5% on FMF loans and limits the repayment period to 12 years, unless specific legislation extends the period. Certain factors may lead to suspension and termination of credit financing. For additional information, see DSCA, Security Assistance Management Manual, C9.7.2.9.2.2.

17.

U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, S.Rept. 115-152 accompanying S. 1780, Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Appropriations Bill, 2018.

18.

Politico, "Lawmakers want more info on State Department redesign as proposal comes due," September 12, 2017.

19.

For additional information on State Department authorities and programs, see CRS Report R44444, Security Assistance and Cooperation: Shared Responsibility of the Departments of State and Defense, by [author name scrubbed]; Institute for the Study of Security Cooperation, "Security Cooperation Programs," FY2017.

20.

Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) is an example of such support. It is an initiative through which DOS, DOD, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) work to prevent potential expansion of operations by terrorist and extremist organizations across West and North Africa.

21.

Although explicit authority for several aid programs has expired, the programs continue to receive funding and continue their activities.

22.

For additional information on DOD authorities and programs, see CRS Report R44444, Security Assistance and Cooperation: Shared Responsibility of the Departments of State and Defense, by [author name scrubbed]; CRS Report R44602, DOD Security Cooperation: An Overview of Authorities and Issues, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]; Institute for the Study of Security Cooperation, "Security Cooperation Programs," FY2017.

23.

Section 1241(c) of the FY2017 NDAA established new authority for building the capacity of foreign forces: 10 U.S.C. 333. This provision incorporates elements of some existing authorities and, following 270 days after enactment of the FY2017 NDAA, repeals those authorities.

The authorities to be repealed by Section 1241(c) of the FY2017 NDAA are 10 U.S.C. 2282: Building capacity of foreign forces; Section 1204 (FY2014 NDAA , P.L. 113-66): Authority to conduct activities to enhance the capabilities of foreign countries to respond to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction; Section 1207 (FY2014 NDAA, P.L. 113-66): Assistance to the Government of Jordan for border security operations; and Section 1033 (FY1998 NDAA, P.L. 105-85, as amended): Assistance for additional counternarcotics support for specified countries.

24.

As part of the changes to security cooperation authorities enacted in the FY2017 NDAA (P.L. 114-328), Section 4302 of the FY2017 NDAA transferred $750 million from the CTPF to DOD O&M, defense-wide, DSCA. (Section 4502 of the FY2017 NDAA [P.L. 114-328] authorized $0 for CTPF in FY2017.)

25.

Section 1243(a) of the FY2017 NDAA added a new Section to Title 10, Ch. 16 of U.S. Code: 10 U.S.C. 312. This provision incorporates elements of 10 U.S.C. 1050, 10 U.S.C. 1050a, 10 U.S.C. 1051, and 10 U.S.C. 1051a. 1243(b) of the FY2017 NDAA repeals those authorities. Section 1253(a) of the FY2017 NDAA repealed 10 U.S.C. 168.

26.

Section 1245(a) of the FY2017 NDAA amended and transferred 10 U.S.C. 127d to 10 U.S.C. 331.

27.

Section 1241(b) of the FY2017 NDAA transferred and codified parts of Section 1081 (FY2012 NDAA, P.L. 112-81), as amended, to 10 U.S.C. 332. Section 1081 was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2017.

28.

As part of the modifications to security cooperation changes enacted in the FY2017 NDAA, Section 1241(e) transferred 10 U.S.C. 184 to 10 U.S.C. 342 and amended the provision. 10 U.S.C. 342 authorizes administration of Regional Security Centers for Security Studies for bilateral and multilateral research, communications, exchange of ideas and training involving military and civilian participants. 10 U.S.C. 342 also requires that each center prioritize functional areas of focus such as territorial and maritime security, transnational and asymmetric threats, and defense sector governance.

29.

Section 1253(a) of the FY2017 NDAA repealed 10 U.S.C. 168. Section 1243(a) repealed 10 U.S.C. 1050.