# Budget Hearing – Trade and Investment Agencies


**Body:** House Appropriations Committee
**Date:** September 17, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** Federal

**Tags:** Professional Services, Energy & Utilities, Contracting Vehicles, Regulatory Compliance


The House Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing on September 17, 2026, focusing on trade and investment agencies including the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The hearing emphasized procurement and investment activities aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy, economic development, and countering strategic competitors like China. Key discussions included MCC's infrastructure and regulatory reform projects in countries such as the Philippines, Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nepal, with a focus on measurable economic returns and partner country financial commitments. DFC highlighted its expanded investment capacity of $25 billion and its role in mobilizing private capital for projects in critical minerals, energy, and infrastructure, including a $1.5 billion joint venture in the Philippines. USDA detailed its support for U.S. exports through infrastructure projects and critical mineral development, while noting statutory limitations in higher-income countries. Members raised concerns about ethics, anti-corruption safeguards, and the impact of investments on U.S. industries, with agencies affirming rigorous due diligence and accountability measures. The hearing also covered initiatives supporting women's economic empowerment and responses to global crises such as the Nepal earthquake. Overall, the committee underscored the importance of targeted, accountable investments that promote U.S. economic and security interests abroad.

**Source:** House Appropriations Committee