Washington, D.C. — According to press reports, the Trump administration plans to rescind billions of dollars of critical funding for the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development. In response, Kelly Magsamen, vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This move will undermine U.S. national security interests and add to an already weak and ineffective Trump administration foreign policy. It also violates Congress’ constitutional authority to appropriate funds on behalf of the American people. And the impact will be real. Cutting funding for countering major pandemic diseases such as Ebola will put American lives at risk. Ending funding for U.N. peacekeeping operations around the world will mean greater instability and possible conflict. Ending funding for countering China and Russia will leave our allies and the American people deeply vulnerable. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. This is not just a budget exercise. American national security is on the line. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may want to abdicate their responsibilities to keep Americans safe and defend our interests in the world, but Congress should not. Congress must act to block this self-inflicted threat to our national security.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.