The Foreign Service Journal, April 2017

16 APRIL 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL TALKING POINTS Military Officers, Lawmakers Speak Out Against State and USAID Budget Cuts O n Feb. 27, following reports that the presidential budget proposal included cuts of as much as 37 percent in funding for the Department of State and USAID, more than 100 officers from across the armed services wrote a letter to U.S. lawmakers urging that they fully fund U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid. Numerous legislators also spoke out. “As you and your colleagues address the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018, we write as retired three and four star flag and general officers from all branches of the armed services to share our strong conviction that elevating and strength- ening diplomacy and development alongside defense are critical to keeping America safe,” the military leaders wrote to Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Their letter continues: “We know fromour service in uniform that many of the crises our nation faces do not have military solutions alone—from confront- ing violent extremist groups like ISIS in the Middle East and North Africa to preventing pandemics like Ebola and stabilizing weak and fragile states that can lead to greater instability. There are 65million displaced people today, the most sinceWorldWar II, with consequences including refugee flows that are threatening America’s strategic allies in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Europe. “The State Department, USAID, Mil- lenniumChallenge Corporation, Peace Corps and other development agencies are critical to preventing conflict and reducing the need to put our men and women in uniform in harm’s way. As Secretary James Mattis said while Commander of U.S. Cen- tral Command, ‘If you don’t fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition.’ The military will lead the fight against terrorismon the battlefield, but it needs strong civilian partners in the battle against the drivers of extremism— lack of opportunity, insecurity, injustice and hopelessness. “We recognize that America’s strategic investments in diplomacy and develop- ment—like all of U.S. investments—must be effective and accountable. Significant reforms have been undertaken since 9/11, many of which have been embodied in recent legislation in Congress with strong bipartisan support—on human traffick- ing, the rights of women and girls, trade and energy in Africa, wildlife trafficking, water, food security, and transparency and accountability. “We urge you to ensure that resources for the International Affairs Budget keep pace with the growing global threats and opportunities we face. Now is not the time to retreat.” Many legislators, including prominent Republicans, joined in emphasizing the critical importance of “soft power,” and the danger of slashing the 150 account for diplomacy and foreign assistance. “This budget destroys soft power, it puts our diplomats at risk and it’s going nowhere,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Appropri- ations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. “When I hear if we cut foreign aid we can balance the budget, it’s just a complete lie,” he added. “I for one, just speaking for myself, think the diplomatic portion of the federal bud- get is very important, and you get results a lot cheaper frequently than you do on the defense side,” said SenateMajority Leader MitchMcConnell (R-Ky.). “So, speaking for myself, I’mnot in favor of reducing what we call the 150 account to that extent.” “Foreign aid is not charity,” tweeted Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). “We mus t make sure it is well spent, but it is less than 1 percent of the budget and critical to our national security.” “Undercutting diplomacy and foreign aidmakes our military’s job harder,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “Trump’s ‘security budget’ completely misses the point.” —The Editors The State of State: Questions Abound T he State Department and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have been the object of increasingly intense media atten- tion in the months since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. From the dismissal of career diplo- mats from top-level positions and lack of progress in filling key slots at State to the month-long hiatus in daily press briefings, the report of a White House budget that proposes to slash the 150 account by as much as 37 percent and the unusually low profile of Secretary Tillerson, questions about U.S. foreign policy and its manage- ment abound. In aMarch 1 article, which has been widely shared, The Atlantic portrayed a State Department that is “adrift and listless.” Activity has slowed to a crawl, theWhite House has shown no interest in tapping State’s expertise, guidance is not forthcom- ing on the issues of the day, and employ- ees aremostly in the dark about the new administration’s plans for the department. For some, the outlook is truly grim. “I don’t think this administration thinks the State Department needs to exist,” one mid-level State Department officer told The Atlantic. “They think Jared [Kushner, Pres. Trump’s son-in-law] can do every- thing. It’s reminiscent of the developing countries where I’ve served. The family