Senate passes Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill without restoring Brand USA cuts

Travel Weekly

01-07-2025

The U.S. Senate narrowly passed President Trump's budget bill that reduces Brand USA's federal funding from $100 million to $20 million for the 2026 fiscal year.
The original legislation introduced by the White House -- which Trump has repeatedly referred to as his "one, big, beautiful bill" -- included full funding for Brand USA. But in June, as part of the budget reconciliation bill process, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation proposed cutting the organization's budget from $100 million to $20 million.
A divided Senate broke even on the bill, leaving Vice President JD Vance to cast the tiebreaking vote, 51-to-50. It now goes to the House, where it faces an uncertain future. If passed, it will head to the president's desk to be signed.
Since its inception in 2009, Brand USA's private-sector donations are matched by up to $100 million in federal funding, which is provided by a $17 portion of every Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee that is collected from international travelers. The current bill does not specify what the ESTA fees would be used for instead of Brand USA.
Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said during the IPW conference earlier this month that the organization was doing "everything in our power to protect Brand USA.
"And we've got more allies on Capitol Hill than we do opponents," he said.
The House Rules Committee said in a post July 1 that it will meet that day about the bill.
In the meantime, Brand USA is forging ahead with a new marketing campaign aimed at boosting inbound travel.