Dramatic, simple, startling
very sick story with serious recuperations:
“Trump suspends U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days pending
reviews”
According to the Associated Press, Trump has signed an EO suspending all foreign aid programs for 90 days.
During this period, a review will be conducted to determine whether these
programs meet the country's political objectives.
Despite this, it's not entirely clear how much aid will be
cut by this EO as Congress has already approved funding for many programs,
which should be allocated if the funds are not lost.
Trump declared: “That no further U.S foreign aid will be disbursed in a manner that isn't
fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”
Last week, Secretary
of State Marco Rubio told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at
his confirmation hearing: “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund
and every policy we pursue must be justified by the answer to three simple
questions.”
1. Does it
make America safer?
2. Does it make America stronger?
3. Does it make America more prosperous?
Trump has long railed against foreign aid despite the fact that such assistance typically amounts to roughly 1% of the federal budget, except under unusual circumstances such as the billions in weaponry provided to Ukraine.
Trump has been critical of the amount shipped to Ukraine to help
bolster its defenses against Russia’s invasion.
The last official accounting of foreign aid in the Biden administration dates from mid-December and budget year 2023.
It shows that $68 billion had been obligated for programs
abroad that range from disaster relief to health and pro-democracy initiatives in
204 countries and regions.
Some of the biggest recipients of U.S. assistance are: (1) Israel ($3.3 billion per year); (2) Egypt ($1.5 billion per year); and (3) Jordan ($1.7 billion per year).
All unlikely to see dramatic reductions, as those
amounts are included in long-term packages that date back decades and are in
some cases governed by treaty obligations.
Funding for U.N. agencies,
including peacekeeping, human rights, and refugee agencies have long been
traditional targets for Republican administrations to slash or otherwise cut.
The first Trump administration moved to reduce foreign aid
spending, suspending payments to various UN agencies, including the U.N.
Population Fund, and funding to the Palestinian Authority.
The U.S. previously under Trump had already pulled out of
the U.N. Human Rights Council, with its financial obligations, and has been
barred from funding the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, by a
bill signed by former President Joe Biden last March.
My 2 Cents: More to follow on this shocking story.
Will update as soon more details are forthcoming.
Another totally sick disturbing story from USA TODAY with this pardon-related headline: “Trump defends pardons for rioters and suggests the “Proud Boys could have place in politics”
Reminder who they and their leader is: Enrique Tarrio (picture above) who was serving a 22-year term for January 6 when Trump pardoned him.
The Proud Boys is a North American far-right, neo-fascist militant organization that promotes and engages in political violence.
The group's leaders have been convicted of violently opposing the federal government of the United States, including its constitutionally prescribed transfer of presidential power.
It has been called a street gang and was designated as a group in Canada and New Zealand.
They oppose left-wing and progressive groups and they strongly supported and still do support Trump.
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