Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 6: The administration of Donald Trump has proposed a sweeping overhaul of US diplomacy and foreign assistance in its fiscal year 2027 budget, calling for deep reductions in international programmes while prioritising national interests and strategic competition.
According to the White House budget document, $35.6 billion has been allocated for the US Department of State and related international programmes—a 30 percent cut compared to 2026 levels. The proposal reflects a significant pullback in US global aid commitments.
The plan emphasizes restructuring foreign assistance to eliminate inefficiencies, with the stated goal of ensuring that taxpayer funds directly enhance US security and economic strength.
At the centre of the proposal is a new $5 billion “America First Opportunity Fund,” aimed at advancing priorities such as curbing illegal immigration, securing supply chains for critical minerals, and countering geopolitical rivals.
A major focus of the budget is reducing reliance on foreign sources for essential minerals—an area where the US is competing with China. Nearly $13 billion has been earmarked to rebuild and secure these supply chains, which the administration claims were weakened by previous governments.
The proposal also outlines targeted cooperation with allied nations, including Jordan and Philippines, particularly those willing to align closely with US strategic goals.
In a notable shift, traditional humanitarian and development aid would face significant reductions. Funding for such programmes is set to drop by $2 billion, with resources redirected toward efforts tied more closely to US national priorities, including migration control.
The long-standing Food for Peace initiative is proposed for elimination, with the administration arguing that it is slow and inefficient, often taking months to deliver assistance.
Global health funding would also be restructured under a new “America First Global Health Strategy,” with $5.1 billion allocated to streamline operations and encourage recipient nations to become more self-reliant.
The budget further calls for reduced contributions to international bodies, including cuts to United Nations programmes and the complete withdrawal of support for the World Health Organization. The document argues that US contributions to UN peacekeeping—currently about 27 percent—exceed what it considers a fair share.
Additionally, the administration proposes ending funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, criticising it as politically biased and misaligned with current US foreign policy.
At the same time, the budget increases emphasis on security-related assistance, including $1.2 billion for international narcotics control and law enforcement programmes aimed at combating transnational crime and strengthening global partnerships.