The Trump administration could cut nearly 50 percent of the State Department’s funding next fiscal year, according to an internal memo. The memo proposes eliminating almost all funding for international organizations like the United Nations and NATO, ending the budget for supporting international peacekeeping operations, and curtailing all cultural exchanges. The cuts also include reducing funding for humanitarian assistance and global health programs by more than 50 percent. The memo suggests cutting foreign aid spending by more than half of current budget levels for the State Department and USAID. The administration intends to claw back $20 billion in unspent funds from fiscal year 2025 to return to the Treasury. Among other cuts, the memo proposes a pay and hiring freeze, except for hires needed to take over foreign aid programs from USAID. Overall, the memo seeks to reduce the State Department’s foreign aid spending by more than half.
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