foreign affairs
8 Ways the Latest Budget Proposal Impacts America’s Global Footprint
Liz Schrayer USGLC
President and CEO, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
#1 – Elite Combatant Commanders Press
Congress
Just ahead of the Administration’s
budget release, more than a dozen
former U.S. Combatant Command-
ers representing all six regional com-
mands – including Generals Zinni
and Petraeus and Admiral Stavridis
– urged Congress to protect the In-
ternational Affairs Budget in a joint
statement that’s been picked up from
CNN to NPR to POLITICO to the
Washington Examiner.
KEY QUOTE: “Diplomacy and
development are essential to com-
bating threats before they reach our
shores.”
24 iF Magazine |March 2019
STEADY DRUMBEAT: Not sur-
prising, these former military leaders
are echoing the voices of America’s
current regional Combatant Com-
manders who recently testified be-
fore Congress on why America’s ci-
vilian tools are critical to our national
security.
#2 – Proposal Undermines America’s Full
National Security Arsenal
As the new budget proposal slashes
our nation’s civilian footprint over-
seas by 24%, the Administration is
also requesting a boost in military
spending. This split breaks with the
longstanding bipartisan consensus on
the importance of strengthening re-
sources for both military and civilian
tools to confront global threats.
#3 – Great Power Competition Drives
Budget Priorities
The budget focuses on America’s
economic prosperity and prioritiz-
es funding to counter Chinese and
Russian influence, expanding U.S.
exports, trade, and investment, and
doubling down on the new Devel-
opment Finance Corporation, a pri-
ority with strong bipartisan support.
BY THE NUMBERS: Compared
to last year’s request, resources for
the Indo-Pacific region skyrockets
by 90% and funding for countering