The long-delayed 2024 United States budget, which includes a nearly 6% cut for foreign affairs funding, has been released, but the clock is ticking for lawmakers to pass the bill before a partial government shutdown at midnight on Friday.
Several development advocates acknowledged the constrained funding environment but noted the foreign affairs budget took disproportionately large cuts compared to other agencies and programs in the funding package. The message, some said, is that the foreign affairs budget is not a priority.
“Given what’s going on in the world and the number of global crises it’s a significant failure to meet the moment,” said Liz Leibowitz, ONE's senior director of government relations. “It does seem like a pretty stark cut compared to where the other bills came in.”