Participants in a community project in Guatemala funded by the US Agency for International Development
The Trump Administration intends to table a plan to cancel billions of dollars in foreign aid, setting up a battle with Congress.
A “senior Administration official” told CNN on Friday of the move, which follows the Administtation’s cancellation of aid, development programs and assistance for medical care and education in areas from Palestine to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.
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State Department officials and Congressional representatives from both Republican and Democratic parties are urging the White House to back off the planned cuts of $4.3 billion. White House officials insist they can cancel the funds without approval on Capitol Hill.
The senior Administration official said the cancellation includes money to the UN, such as peacekeeping funds, and for cultural programs.
Projects led by Trump’s daughter Ivanka and Vice President Mike Pence, as well as global health funding, will be spared.
Leading members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee pressed the Administration to step back. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump friend, and GOP Rep. Hal Rogers wrote to Trump on Friday:
Not only do these cuts have the potential to undermine significant national security and anti-terrorism efforts of our diplomats and international partners overseas, but we fear such a rescission package could complicate the ability of the Administration and Congress to work constructively on future appropriations deals.
The White House pursued the cuts last year, but retreated after opposition, including from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo has made no public comment about the latest plan.
