Security budget for 2027 drops by $20 million, with the cut falling mostly on the police
Summary
The 2027 budget proposal for the security sector that Minister Gustavo Villatoro presented to the Finance Committee totals $682.59 million, $20 million less than in 2026, according to Co Latino and Infobae. Most of it goes to the National Civil Police, which would go from $471.92 million to $446.29 million. Villatoro said the money is being redirected to education and said the cut will not affect police operations or the payment of salaries and benefits. "Of course we are going to miss those twenty million, but that's where efficiency comes in," the minister said, according to Infobae (our translation).
Sources
More coverage
Related
The PNC reports zero homicides on Tuesday, November 3
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), Tuesday, November 3, ended with 0 homicides in the country. The Presidential Press Secretariat said "El Salvador recorded no homicides nationwide on Tuesday, November 3" (our translation) and credited the security work of President Nayib Bukele's government. It is the third day in a row with zero homicides according to the PNC, which also reported 0 on Sunday, November 1, and Monday, November 2. The figures are the government's.
The first lady signs a memorandum with Cambridge University Press & Assessment on early childhood education
First lady Gabriela de Bukele signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge, to consolidate the early childhood education model, according to the Press Secretariat, Diario La Página, Diario El Mundo and Infobae. According to Diario El Mundo, the agreement was signed in Cambridge, England. The memorandum sets three priorities: researching the impact of the National Play Strategy on children's learning and socio-emotional well-being, ensuring the transition from first to second grade, and moving toward formal academic recognition of the New National Curriculum. "This collaboration with one of the most prestigious universities in the world is a great opportunity to continue improving our children's education" (our translation), the first lady said, according to the Press Secretariat.
The Education Ministry starts training 5,000 principals of early childhood schools
The Education Ministry began a training program for 5,000 principals of schools that serve early childhood students, elsalvador.com and Infobae reported. The training aims to prepare principals to implement the National Early Childhood Curriculum. The program is organized in two cohorts of about 2,500 participants each. According to elsalvador.com, the launch took place at seven venues with principals from all 14 departments.
Bukele meets Dan Katz, the IMF's First Deputy Managing Director, to discuss reforms and artificial intelligence
President Nayib Bukele met Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Katz himself announced on X on Tuesday, November 3. Katz called it an "excellent meeting" and wrote: "Unlocking more private investment and harnessing new technologies will be key to building on recent gains & realizing the country's growth potential." Bukele said the conversation turned to the potential impact of artificial intelligence, writing that "our discussion about the economy, the job market, healthcare, education, public spending, and social safety nets ended up being far more interesting than a traditional meeting with the IMF." The meeting comes after the IMF approved the second and third reviews of its program with El Salvador on October 1, which enabled a disbursement of about $138 million, according to Contrapunto and El Diario de Hoy.
State debt to the pension funds rises $113.43 million in September to $11,874.74 million, according to the BCR
The Salvadoran state's debt to the pension funds reached $11,874.74 million as of September 2026, according to Central Reserve Bank (BCR) data published by Contrapunto and El Diario de Hoy. In September alone it rose by $113.43 million. Both outlets explain that the state finances itself with instruments that the pension fund managers (AFPs) buy with contributing workers' savings. The government is preparing a new pension system reform for 2027 as part of its commitments to the IMF.