Biden announces $2.6B request to promote gender equity on International Women's Day

President Biden on Tuesday announced he will ask Congress for "$2.6 billion for foreign aid programs that promote gender equity worldwide, more than double the size of last year's request," The Associated Press reports.
News of the president's planned request conveniently arrived on International Women's Day, "which is set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world."
Last International Women's Day, Biden created the inaugural White House Gender Policy Council to help with gender equity across the administration, per AP.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Every person deserves the chance to live up to their full God-given potential, without regard for gender or other factors," Biden wrote in a statement. "Improving the status of women and girls strengthens economies, democracies, and societies across the board. That's why I made gender equity a cornerstone of my Administration by creating the White House Gender Policy Council shortly after taking office a year ago."
"And it's why I'm proud that my FY 2023 Budget will request $2.6 billion for foreign assistance programs that promote gender equality worldwide, more than doubling the amount requested for gender programs last year," he continued.
First lady Jill Biden also paid tribute to International Women's Day with a statement and video of her own, honoring the honor "women throughout the world who courageously use their voice, no matter the cost" — including "our sisters from Ukraine who are fighting to keep their country free," and "our sisters in Russia who are protesting and speaking out against the invasion at great personal risk," she said.
The president's $2.6 billion request will be included in his budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, notes AP.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon's risky mission
Talking Point Iran-backed militia has brought 'nothing but war, division and misery', but rooting them out for good is a daunting and dangerous task
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogs
The Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
Sudoku medium: August 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda