WASHINGTON D.C., (May 2017) - Yesterday morning, the Administration released the President’s 2018 budget. In his $4.1 trillion budget, President Trump aims to boost military spending while reducing funding for some safety-net programs. In an extremely troubling development, the budget proposal eliminates federal funding for Brand USA, a highly successful public private partnership aimed at strengthen tourism to the U.S.  Instead, the budget directs Brand USA’s funding, which is derived from fees paid by international travelers, to be used instead to support Customs and Border Protection. The program boosts the U.S. economy as Brand USA results in nearly $30 billion in total economic impact, contributes nearly $3.9 billion in federal, state and local taxes, and supports an average of nearly 50,000 incremental jobs a year — jobs that cannot be exported and which extend well beyond the travel industry.

While the President’s budget is non-binding and Congress will craft its own budget based on its priorities, this news is very concerning. AHLA issued this statement urging Congress to protect this critical program and will continue to be actively engaged with both key officials in the Administration and Congressional leaders to remind them of the importance of travel and the pivotal role that Brand USA has in promoting the United States as the world’s top tourist destination.  We are working closely with US Travel and the broader travel community on these efforts and will be coming back to you soon to ask for your help in reaching out directly to your Members of Congress.