A quick update on some concerning news that has just emerged in Washington - for the second summer in a row, the Administration's budget office (OMB) is trying to cancel critical State Department and USAID programs that are essential to America's security and economic interests.
 
They are rolling out this irresponsible proposal just after a bipartisan budget deal was signed into law, while Congress is on a 5-week recess, and - not surprising - it's facing
strong bipartisan objection from Capitol Hill.

As I've told reporters all week, given the threats we face around the world, it's a "reckless and irresponsible move" to take a sledgehammer to one the smallest yet
highest-impact parts of the federal budget.

The good news is that top Republican and Democratic lawmakers are forcefully pushing back.
 
Here's a quick behind the scenes summary:
* DANGEROUS PLAN: Last weekend, while Secretary Pompeo was overseas the Administration's budget office started the process to roll back as much as $4 billion in
congressionally-mandated resources for the State Department and USAID before those funds can be responsibly spent ahead of the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.
* CHOPPING BLOCK: Surprisingly, programs being targeted for cuts include many key Administration and Congressional priorities:
* BIPARTISAN PUSHBACK: Even with lawmakers away from the Capitol during the August recess, senior lawmakers are raising their voices - opposing both the substance and the process:
* REALITY CHECK: The Administration is seeking to rescind unobligated funds from the past two fiscal years. Yet, budget experts have said that while it often takes time to responsibly deploy overseas dollars to projects - and this year has been particularly difficult due to the government shutdown, delayed appropriations, and numerous hurdles by OMB to slow down spending on key programs.
* IN THE NEWS: The press coverage has been significant - with the Washington Post, the NY Times, CNN, POLITICO, and beyond - calling out how the budget office is trying to "bypass Congress authority."

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We will keep you updated as more details emerge. Secretary Pompeo spoke out against this move last year and I expect he will again this year. All that to say, the timing certainly isn't ideal in the middle of August, but I'm hopeful smart policy will win out.
 
More soon,
 
Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC


The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
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