U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 28 percent budget cut in U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid next year that would reduce funding to the United Nations, USAID, and other aid agencies.
With the cuts, Trump hopes to boost funding for new U.S. military programs and free up funds for his plans to build a wall on America’s border with Mexico, reports the BBC.
If approved by Congress, the proposals will see State Department funding cut by $10.9 billion (£8.9bn) or 28 percent and the Environmental Protection Agency funding cut by $2.6 billion or 31 percent. The proposal also seeks to convert some U.S. military grants into repayable loans.
Experts and other donor partners warn that the proposed funding cuts could negatively affect humanitarian efforts on the African continent and elsewhere.
A 21 percent cut in the funding of the Agriculture Department would end a popular program that helps U.S. farmers donate crops for overseas food aid.
Also affected by Trump’s budget cuts are the U.S. Institute of Peace, which works to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict around the world, and the U.S. African Development Foundation, which provides seed money and other support to African-owned and- led enterprises in poor and vulnerable communities in about 20 African countries.
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump pledged to unleash a barrage of budgetary reforms as part of what he called his “American First Policy,” which would see cuts to America’s contribution to foreign humanitarian assistance, the fight against climate change, and military grants to some of America’s closest diplomatic partners.
In Mr. Trump’s budget proposal, though, U.S. funding for the war against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa was untouched. America provides about two-thirds of the total funding for international assistance in the war against HIV/AIDS. Most of that funding offsets nearly 80 percent of the cost of antiretroviral treatments in countries such as, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Namibia, and Tanzania.
The UK Guardian reports that while the United States has the world’s largest development aid budget, it is actually one of the least-generous countries in relative terms.
To put this in context, U.S. spending on foreign aid in 2015 stood at just 0.17 percent of gross national income, compared to the United Kingdom, which amounted to 0.7 percent of the budget.
Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…
Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…
Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…