The Trump administration could reduce almost 50 percent of the state’s financing of the next financial year, according to an internal note exposing a reduction plan that is considered seriously the leaders of the department, two North -Americans said. The Plan was prepared as pressure agencies of the White House to make important budget cuts.
The note, a copy of which was obtained by the New York Times, proposes to eliminate almost all funding for international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO, ending the budget to support international peace maintenance operations and reduce all educational and cultural exchanges in the department, such as the Fulbright program.
It also proposes to reduce financing for humanitarian assistance and world health programs by more than 50 percent despite the promises of the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which would preserve the assistance of rescue.
It was unclear if Mr. Rubio had approved the cuts exposed to the note, which dated April 10. Pete Marocco, who Supervise the Budge of Government Foreign Aid Programs before Outgoing abruptly The Department, and Douglas Pitkin, who is responsible for the department’s budget planning, prepared the document. It was also not clear how seriously the cuts proposed to Congress would be entertained, which are approaching federal dollars.
But, according to a North -American official familiar with the Department’s review, the Congress is likely to send a budget proposal this spring that will be substantially similar to what the note describes in an effort to pressure legislators to formalize the reduction efforts that are already underway.
Agencies are Before a term This week to present detailed reorganization plans at the White House, which explain what cuts will help to reduce the federal government even more. Although many departments have already announced or began to carry out their planned cuts, the State Department has not yet publicly detailed the full size reduction plans. The note is part of a process involved in the White House budget office and the proposals and suggestions of negotiation of the State Department.
The reports of strong cuts already had Democrats at Capitol Hill Reding.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire, the highest Democrat of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement on Monday that the cuts would « leave our country alone and expose and allow China and Russia to fill in the vacuum that was becoming vacant for this administration. »
« Why would we reduce NATO funding in the world at a time when the war raises Europe and safety threats on the continent grow? » She added.
Senator Brian Schatz, of Hawaii, a Democrat of the Appropriation Committee, said: « Although the congress is ultimately controlling the chains of purses, recent reports on the administration’s plan for state department staff, the presence of the United States abroad and foreign assistance are deeply worrying.These cuts do not make the United States more confident. »
« I want to hear Secretary Rubio directly, » he added.
In recent days, a budget copy of the note began to circulate in Washington. The Washington Post Reported details of the note the previous Monday.
The State Department had no immediate comment.
The note states that the State Department will request a budget of $ 28.4 billion in the 2026 financial year, which begins on October 1. This figure is $ 26 billion less than in books for 2025, according to the document.
The administration intends to collect some funds for the current exercise, according to the note. Marocco and Pinkin wrote that the Trump administration would try to recover approximately $ 20 billion on non -accredited finger 2025 to return to the treasure.
Among other cuts, the note proposes to maintain a freezing of payments and contracting through the 2026 exercise, with the exception of the necessary hires to assume the foreign aid programs inherited from the United States Agency for International Development, which is being dissolved. In general, the note aims to reduce expenditure on foreign aid by more than half of the current budget levels of the State Department and USAID
Although Mr. Rubio last month promised that the State Department would continue to administer various life assistance programs, the Trump administration has quietly canceled Some of these initiatives in recent weeks.
The only funding for world health programs that the State Department plans to preserve is $ 2.9 billion for HIV treatments provided through the President’s Emergency Plan for the AIDS Society; $ 687 million for interventions for diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria; $ 200 million for global health security; and $ 800 million for the Global backgrounddistributed at a rate of $ 1 for every $ 4 more donors. The Global Fund is an international organization that funds the treatment and prevention of diseases.
All the other programs, including those that are facing neglected tropical diseases, provide vaccines to children in poor countries and preserve maternal and childhood health.
The note offers less details about the cuts in humanitarian aid. $ 2.5 billion is described for a new office for humanitarian assistance in the State Department and $ 1.5 billion in emergency migration and refugee assistance that President Trump may use « to address humanitarian emergencies. »
The note also proposes a one -year freezing for a key narcotics control program, streamlining the suspension of funds, saying that the program has an amount of $ 1.4 billion on hand that should cover this period.
Additionally, he plans to create a first -chance fund in America of $ 2 billion in the treasury, which would give Trump’s administration the latitude of « providing a support for economic and development assistance for the priorities of the Trump and emerging Trump Administration. »
Stephanie Nolen Contributed reports.
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