As President Donald Trump released his “skinny budget” outlining his top priorities on Thursday, leaders at development organizations, advocacy shops and on Capitol Hill were working overtime to figure out how best to tackle unprecedented cuts.
The budget proposes cuts of 28 percent to the base budget for the State Department and USAID, along with 37 percent cuts to the Overseas Contingency Operations fund, which is used to fund disaster response and emergency needs.
The budget proposes steep cuts that have been described by congressional and NGO leaders as “narrow-minded,” “small-hearted” and “disastrous,” although it is unlikely to be approved by Congress without significant changes. While the final budget will likely look quite different, many note that this blueprint provides a glimpse into how the Trump administration views foreign aid.