Implementation of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998
Secretary of State Given Major Foreign Assistance Authority
What it does
Agencies must transfer and carry out Presidential foreign aid authorities as delegated to the Secretary of State and the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Real-world impact
- Shifts many foreign aid decision powers from the President to the Secretary of State.
- Allocates specific foreign assistance funds to State, Defense, and Treasury for program parts.
- Establishes USAID leadership roles and aligns personnel and program responsibilities.
Topics
Summary
This order implements the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 by moving many Presidential foreign assistance powers to the Secretary of State and defining the role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It amends and revokes earlier executive orders, sets which parts of the law each department will run, and outlines how related funds are allocated.
The order affects the Secretary of State, the head of USAID, the Secretaries of Defense and the Treasury, and the Office of Management and Budget. It centralizes decision-making for U.S. foreign aid and formalizes funding responsibilities.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”