Congress must reject Trump’s indefensible foreign affairs budget

This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is appearing before various House and Senate committees to defend President Trump’s foreign affairs budget request, an annual tradition.

Normally this would be the time when lawmakers debate U.S. priorities and probe the administration’s spending plans. But there’s nothing normal about this year. 

The Trump administration has gutted the foreign affairs apparatus, and its proposed budget reflects an alarming shift in priorities — one already evident on the world stage. At $35.51 billion, this request is a husk of its predecessors, with year-over-year decreases of more than $4 billion in global health; $4 billion in humanitarian aid; nearly 80 percent cuts to contributions to international organizations  like the United Nations; and the near elimination of funding promoting democracy. If adopted, it would amount to roughly 30 percent less than the government spent last year.

Americans understand that our budget reflects our national values. This one signals a wholesale rejection of U.S. leadership on human rights, democracy, rule of law and diplomacy. It shows that we favor using our influence to squelch free speech and obstruct democratic movement-building.

Congress must step in. Lawmakers need to take Rubio to task over these drastic cuts and the direction of U.S. foreign policy they signify. 

Over the last year and a half, we have seen foreign assistance remade entirely,........

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