The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed halving the budget for the Department of State, according to multiple reports.

The Details: According to an internal White House memo, the proposal includes eliminating all funding for most international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO headquarters, Fulbright Scholars, and other diplomatic missions.

Pushback: Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), the top Democrat on the appropriations committee said in a statement, “While ultimately Congress controls the purse strings, recent reports about the administration’s plan to gut State Department personnel, U.S. presence overseas and foreign assistance are deeply troubling. These cuts don’t make America safer, they risk our security." 

For Context: The proposal, which is still in its preliminary phase, was presented to the State Department last week. It is not expected to be endorsed by either the State Department or Congress, which will be voting on the entire federal budget in the next few months.

How the Media Covered It: Newsmax (Right bias) reported that the Trump administration's efforts to reduce funding to international bodies and streamline foreign assistance reflect a push to realign U.S. priorities abroad. The New York Times (Lean Left bias) reported that the White House is likely to send Congress a budget proposal that is "substantially similar" to the White House memo in order to get lawmakers to formalize federal government downsizing efforts. In general, supporters of the budget cuts at the State Department say it shows a long-overdue focus on domestic issues, while some critics say the move could weaken humanitarian efforts and global alliances.

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