policy
IVANKA, BUSH 43, FRESH LEAKS
AND A BUDGET DEAL MAY 2017
Written by Liz Schrayer, USGLC
JOINING THE CHORUS. With a strong bi-
partisan voice, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL)
and Todd Young (R-IN) kicked off the post-
recess budget debate with a formidable
letter signed by 43 Senators sent to their
fellow colleagues on key committees, urg-
ing them to provide “robust funding” for
the International Affairs Budget and called
the proposed cuts “shortsighted, counter-
productive, and even dangerous.” Wel-
come back!
ART OF THE DEAL. Overnight, lawmakers
agreed on what is known as an omnibus
spending deal that keeps the government
running until September. This year’s In-
ternational Affairs Budget saw a small
increase — up just less than 1 percent
— due in part to additional emergency re-
sources for famine relief. A very welcome
development from Congressional appro-
priators at a time of growing crises.
BUDGET LEAK. Last week, a troubling
leaked State Department 2018 budget
document shed light on the Administra-
tion’s plans to shutter or greatly reduce
America’s footprint in at least 20 countries
in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.
While the full number of missions to be
closed could reach as high as 40, the com-
plete picture of the Administration’s pri-
orities won’t be clear until late May when
their full budget is released. Some of the
countries that appear on the list include
Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia — the
epicenter of the Ebola outbreak.
22 iF Magazine | May 2017
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ZEROED OUT. The leaked budget docu-
ment also reveals the Administration’s
intent to reduce the autonomy of USAID
by zeroing out key development accounts.
What else is on the chopping block? A 25%
cut to global health investments, drastic
reductions for food security programs, and
the elimination of the State Department
team that tackles global women’s issues.
Expect a real battle once Capitol Hill takes
over the budget deliberations in late May
and June.
DOWNSIZING DILEMMA. New reports are
just out that the Administration is looking
to cut 2,300 diplomats and civil servants
from the State Department, largely through
attrition and buyouts — very concerning,
given that it will stretch our civilian corps
even thinner around the world. The news
was met with fierce concerns from Capitol
Hill just as Secretary Tillerson announced
his plans to survey the entire employee
base (including USAID) for input on how to
reform the Department. Tillerson will ad-
dress the full staff this week with a 90-day
update. Stay tuned.
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. With the
growing concerns over restructuring the
State Department and USAID, Congress
took notice and — as part of this week’s
spending bill — has requested a detailed
report from the administration on any re-
organization, including how any “merger,
closing or termination” of programs affects
America’s national security interests and
civilian personnel.
ACTIVE DUTY. While the appointments of
our diplomats remain very slow, America’s
military leaders are speaking up loud and
clear. Within the last few weeks, four of our
most senior active-duty commanders plus
Secretary of Defense James Mattis and
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs weighed
in — testifying on Capitol Hill about the
importance of their civilian counterparts in
keeping America safe. Impressive show of
force.
STRAIGHT TALK. Just days before she
hosted the U.N. Security Council in Wash-
ington with President Donald Trump,
Ambassador Nikki Haley penned a com-
manding op-ed in in the wake of chemi-
cal attacks in Syria, “Evil is an inescapable
fact of life, but the violence that results
from human rights violations and abuses
is not inevitable. We can choose to learn
from history, not doom ourselves to re-
peat it.” Haley continues to not only gain
praise, but visibility as perhaps the most
outspoken voice on foreign policy in the
Administration.
IVANKA. The First Daughter announced a
major new international fund focused on
women’s empowerment to be managed
by the World Bank during her first over-
seas trip in this new role. Reinforcing her
efforts, Ivanka Trump joined World Bank
President Jim Kim in a Financial Times
op-ed, writing that investing in women is
“an invaluable asset with proven returns.”
Foreign policy leaders are watching as