US Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey highlighted on Thursday that the US Congress recently approved a quarter of a billion dollars of economic assistance to Egypt for the 2011 financial year. Scobey emphasised that the aid continued the United States’ “significant assistance program in Egypt.”

“Discussions have been under way as to whether or not there are any additional ways we can find to support Egypt’s transition, with focus primarily on the economy,” Ambassador Scobey explained. “We are still in discussion with the Egyptian government, and whatever is decided will be decided based on a mutual understanding.”

The new US Federal Budget, enacted on 15 April, sets aside $250 million of economic support for Egypt. This renewed appropriation of funds continues the strong commitment of the U.S. to supporting the welfare of the Egyptian people, having also appropriated $250 million of economic aid for Egypt in 2010.

The United States has given Egypt an average of $2 billion annually since 1979, much of it military aid, according to the Congressional Research Service. The combined total makes Egypt the second largest recipient of U.S. aid after Israel.

Part of US economic aid is spent on democracy promotion programs in Egypt, a policy that has generated controversy in recent years. "On principle, the Egyptian government rejects US assistance for democracy promotion activities, though it has grudgingly accepted a certain degree of activity," Jeremy Sharp of the Congressional Research Service said in a background report updated on 28 January 2011 and published by Reuters a day later.