I was surprised at how alike these two charts are. Much of President Bush’s final budget proposal was listed as “War on Terror,” but otherwise the charts look pretty similar. State is getting a decent increase, and I think it’s noticeable, right? Slightly? In any case, President Obama’s budget specifically mentions, “[providing] new resources to hire additional Foreign Service officers.”
Notes: The intelligence budget is classified, the last declassified budget was 2008’s, so it’s mostly there as a place holder and to give you an idea. I tinkered with adding Coast Guard, Veteran’s Affairs, and other less direct organizations, but pulling out the percentages of Justice, DHS, DEA, Energy, and even Transportation that go overseas proved beyond my skills. If you want to see the general numbers, click 2009 or 2010.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
As an aspiring FSO, who has just passed the FSOT (after the third try), the increased budget at State for new hires is exciting.
But wouldn’t the higher proportion of defense spending have something to do with the change in how the new administration is accounting (since lots more defense spending, like everything directly relating to the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan) was “off the books” under the old rules…)
@Ryan - Congrats! It’s a great career, I hope you get the call.
@IM,PH.D. - That’s a good point, and one I hadn’t considered. Let’s just hope that when I compare 2010 to 2013 diplomacy gets a larger slice.
I recently attended a conference hosted by the Center for US Global Engagement & it was mentioned that the 2010 FY would include funding for 500 FSOs over the attrition rate. This is good news to someone who will be taking the OA for the third time (the charm, right?) in May.
TH, thanks for your blog; I'm very glad I came across it.