Embassy Security: Background, Funding, and the Budget

Publication Date: October 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon led to the closing the following day of 50 of the nearly 260 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. A week later, however, all U.S. facilities were open for business. Additionally, three embassies - in Pakistan, Yemen, and Turkmenistan - allowed for voluntary evacuations immediately after the attack. In the months prior to the attack, travel warnings were issued and embassies were put on high alert as Osama bin Laden had issued vague, but credible, threats against Americans and American interests around the world.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Colin Powell had testified before Congress that embassy security is among his highest priorities. He made the case that the U.S. government owes State Department personnel on the front lines of diplomacy the same high level of tools and security given to our military on the front lines. The Administration requested a total of $1.3 billion for embassy security and worldwide security upgrades for FY2002. The House concurred; the Senate passed a total of $1.07 billion.

Throughout the summer 2001, the United States received credible threats against American embassies and tourists overseas. The Department of State responded by issuing a worldwide travel warning to American citizens and cancelling Independence Day celebrations at American overseas facilities.

In June 2000 the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan was put on full alert after receiving "credible evidence" that Osama bin Laden followers were planning to attack it. Additionally, the Department of State advised American travelers to be mindful of the August 7th anniversary of the bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Then, in September 2000, terrorists attacked the U.S.S. Cole Navy destroyer.

The August 7, 1998 terrorist attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania resulted in a number of actions by the Administration and Congress. With evidence that bin Laden was involved in the attacks, the Administration, on July 4, 1999, imposed sanctions on the Taliban government because it refused to cooperate in his arrest. In October 1999, the UN Security Council imposed limited sanctions on the Taliban, and in August 2000 both the United States and Russia agreed to work together to tighten the sanctions.

Embassy security budget ramifications of the 1998 bombings continue. In November 1999, Congress expanded authority for State's FY2000 through FY2004 expenditures on overseas security within the Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance (ESCM) account to $900 million annually, in addition to security funds in the Diplomatic and Consular Programs account (D&CP) for FY2000-FY2004 (P.L. 106-113).