U.S. Lawmakers Blast Trump’s Plan For Diplomatic, Foreign Aid Cuts
Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress rejected President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to diplomacy and foreign aid budgets as dangerous to national security on Wednesday, setting the stage for a budget battle with the White House.
The proposal slashes the State Department and aid budget by about $11 billion to $40 billion.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said In written remarks ahead of the hearings the budget sought to double funds for countering China’s increased aggression, and strengthen systems to target Russia’s growing threats to the United States and Western world.
Pompeo said resources would also fund work to reach a deal with North Korea on curbing its nuclear program and push back against Iran’s role in Iraq, Yemen and Syria.
He said the budget also requests new authority to support a democratic transition in Venezuela, including transferring up to $500 million to foreign assistance accounts.
Trump’s proposal calls for spending more U.S. taxpayer money on the military and a U.S.-Mexico border wall, while overhauling social safety-net programs in a budget plan likely to die in Congress but live on in his 2020 re-election campaign.
