Administration Proposes Substantial Cuts in Foreign Aid; Shields Pet Projects of Senior Officials

Grants Resource Center, by Mahaney, Kyle

In the process of proposing substantial cuts to foreign aid, the current administration has decided to spare projects championed by certain senior officials close to the President. The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative​, backed by senior official Ivanka Trump, as well as several programs championed by Vice President Pence in aid of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, will be spared.

Various programs have been slated for elimination, including several focused on youth development, alternative energy promotion, democracy promotion, counterterrorism efforts, and stemming the refugee crisis. The proposed cuts are expected to exceed $2 billion, possibly reaching as high as $4 billion, though in addition to the pet projects of administration officials, international health programs have been likewise excluded from the rescission process.

The proposal faces bipartisan opposition in congress, and proponents of foreign aid spending expect it to be voted down upon arrival in the chamber.