Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110
§2412 Limitation on Foreign Assistance Appropriations
Title 22 › CHAPTER 32 — FOREIGN ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER III — GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part III — Miscellaneous Provisions › § 2412
Summary
No money for foreign aid, including foreign military sales, can be spent unless a law already authorized that money or set the amount. If a later law passed after the money was set aside specifically allows the spending, then this limit does not apply. Only a law passed after January 12, 1971 that specifically changes or cancels this rule can override it.
Full Legal Text
Title 22, §2412
Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Restrictions on appropriations in absence of or in excess of prior authorizations
Notwithstanding any provision of law enacted before January 12, 1971, no money appropriated for foreign assistance (including foreign military sales) shall be available for obligation or expenditure—
(1)unless the appropriation thereof has been previously authorized by law; or
(2)in excess of an amount previously prescribed by law.
(b)Exception
To the extent that legislation enacted after the making of an appropriation for foreign assistance (including foreign military sales) authorizes the obligation or expenditure thereof, the limitation contained in subsection (a) shall have no effect.
(c)Specific repeal or modification of section
The provisions of this section shall not be superseded except by a provision of law enacted after January 12, 1971, which specifically repeals or modifies the provisions of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was not enacted as part of Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which comprises this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
22 U.S.C. § 2412
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110