FY 2012 State and USAID - Overseas Contingency Operations

This funding supports diplomats and development experts who are working every day to protect our national security, promote our economic growth, and project our values in virtually every country on Earth. They are carrying out a robust foreign policy that is leading the world in solving the most complex challenges of our time, from thwarting international terrorism to stopping the spread of catastrophic weapons, fixing the global economy, and advancing human rights and universal values. They are helping identify and prevent conflicts before they start. They are helping to secure nuclear materials, fight international crime, assist human rights defenders, restore our alliances, promote the rights of women and girls, and ensure global economic stability

Secretary Clinton

Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)

As we shift from military responsibility to civilian responsibility in frontline states, the combined OCO request will present considerable overall savings for the American people. The U.S. government-wide OCO budget is decreasing by $41 billion from the estimated FY 2010 to FY 2012.

In addition to the $5.3 billion in operations and assistance provided in the core State/USAID budget, funding for the extraordinary costs of joint State/USAID and Department of Defense efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan is included in the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) request; State/USAID’s portion of the $126 billion U.S. government OCO budget is $8.7 billion.

Iraq: Securing U.S. Military Gains

• The total U.S. government OCO effort in Iraq is $15.7 billion, which is $48.6 billion (76 percent) less than the FY 2010 enacted total.
• The State/USAID OCO budget of $5.2 billion meets the needs associated with the transition to civilian leadership and sustains the gains made by the military.
  • Includes $1.0 billion to train the Iraq police and $1.0 billion for assistance to Iraqi security forces, both programs previously led by DoD.
  • Expands embassy and consulate facilities to support all U.S. government agencies in Iraq.

Afghanistan: Supporting Stable, Transparent, Representative Government and Capable, Sustainable Security Forces

• Maintains increased civilian staffing to support President Obama’s goal of disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al-Qaeda.
• Provides $1.0 billion to sustain an expanded civilian presence -1,500 staff in the next two years – to support the Afghan government.
• Includes $1.2 billion for targeted development and governance programs that will support stabilization and counterinsurgency efforts, such as cash for work and Provincial Reconstruction Teams, as well as counternarcotics efforts that promote alternative livelihoods to poppy production.
• Supports large infrastructure programs that have a combination of short-term stabilization and long-term economic growth outcomes.

Pakistan: Helping Eliminate Violent Extremist Elements and Strengthen Regional Security

• Includes $1.1 billion for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund to provide critical equipment and training for Pakistani security forces, increasing the ability of the Pakistani government to combat insurgents inside Pakistan and eliminating the insurgent’s capacity to conduct cross-border operations in Afghanistan that jeopardize U.S. lives and the mission there.