Starving the beast! Another way to set policy at
the Department of State, by Ann Corcoran
2/28/17
Politico is reporting that they are
getting out their worry-beads all over the world as the Trump Administration
works on its first budget.
Could this mean what we hope it
means—a reduction in the millions of dollars we give away to the UNHCR while
they dictate to us, telling us which refugees and how many America must take.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
huge glass-domed office building in Geneva, Switzerland. How many of your tax
dollars, paid out through the DOS, keep this international organization going? Aid organizations seem to like nice buildings!
Politico (it is kind of cryptic, but hopeful sounding!): U.S. diplomats and
aid workers have been afraid that President Donald Trump wants to sideline them
in favor of the military.
On Monday, they got even more reason
for concern. The Trump administration is developing a federal budget proposal
the White House says will give defense programs a $54 billion boost while
cutting funding to the other agencies, including the State Department, and
especially foreign aid programs.
Lawmakers, foreign embassies and others were scrambling to get the
details of the budget plan Monday.
Officials at the State Department declined to share their budget reduction
targets — it was not clear if the guidance had yet been delivered to them — but
some reports forecast as much as 30 percent reduction, a devastating blow.
Funding for the State Department and
foreign assistance falls under what’s called the “international affairs
budget,” a category that doesn’t include the military. Those programs
overseas, including
everything from embassy security to pandemic prevention to refugee assistance
via the United Nations — cost roughly $58.8 billion. The vast
majority of that figure goes to the State Department and the U.S. Agency for
International Development.
On a call with reporters, officials with the Office of Management and
Budget noted that most federal agencies will be expected to trim their budgets.
But they singled out foreign aid programs in particular, indicating the
administration believes that other countries are merely taking advantage of the
United States. More here.
I wish I knew exactly how much the
US Department of State is paying the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. If anyone
can figure it out, send it our way! Here is one place to start your research!
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