Damaging Cuts to Foreign Operations Budget Proposed by House Appropriations Committee

The $5 billion cut to the State Department and foreign operations budget proposed by the House Appropriations Committee with the release of its annual 403(b) allocations on Tuesday would have enormously damaging consequences for American foreign policy, according to Freedom House.

In the wider context of the federal deficit of over $1 trillion, such cuts to the foreign operations budget will have no impact on addressing the deficit, while significantly reducing the United States’ international presence and undercutting vital funding to support the promotion of democracy and human rights.

The $48.4 billion proposed by the House is a 9% decrease from last year’s budget, and 12% less than the Obama Administration requested for foreign operations this year.

“The President, top military leaders, and experts in the field all agree that the foreign affairs budget is a vital tool in promoting U.S. priorities and values abroad and in protecting our national security,” said Sarah Trister, manager of congressional affairs at Freedom House.  “The proposed amounts would deal a devastating blow to the ability of the United States to engage beyond our borders.”  

Freedom House strongly implores congress to fully fund the President’s FY 2013 request for the international affairs budget and for democracy and human rights.

Learn More:

Investing in Freedom: Analyzing the FY 2012 International Affairs Budget Request
Blog: Freedom At Issue