Mark Green, administrator of USAID, was given the task of defending the administration’s cuts to his budget next year. “But with a 33 percent cut to the budget, no one could do the job effectively.”Chairman Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.) said the budget would “hamstring” USAID efforts at a time when 70 million people worldwide have been uprooted by conflicts and famine. “Indeed, these proposed cuts would impact a number of U.S. priorities — including efforts to combat terrorists, poachers and human traffickers,” he said. As it did last year, the Trump administration is encountering bipartisan resistance to steep reductions for diplomacy and foreign aid. Adding to the turmoil, President Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed him.

Source: Washington Post March 21, 2018 18:29 UTC