In a move that has triggered alarm across diplomatic circles and Capitol Hill, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed cutting the U.S. State Department’s budget by nearly 50%, along with deep reductions to foreign aid, diplomatic staffing, and funding for international institutions such as the United Nations and NATO.
The proposal, still in early stages, was presented to the State Department last week and remains subject to further review. However, officials say it provides a clear look at the Trump administration’s intent to scale back U.S. involvement in global diplomacy in favor of a leaner, “America First” approach.
Among the proposed cuts are:
- A 50% reduction in foreign assistance programs, previously budgeted at $52 billion.
- A near-total elimination of funding to the UN and related agencies.
- The dismantling of the office assisting Afghan allies fleeing Taliban rule.
- Closure of several overseas U.S. diplomatic missions.
- A pay freeze and benefit cuts for foreign service officers.
OMB spokesperson Alexandra McCandless emphasized that “no final funding decisions have been made.” Yet, parallels are being drawn to Trump’s first term, when similar cuts were proposed and largely blocked by Congress.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the move. “When America First becomes America Alone, our economy, security, and prosperity will suffer,” she warned.
The proposal also includes shutting down or defunding long-established U.S. broadcasting services like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, as well as removing funding from global health initiatives, save for limited programs on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
While Congress is unlikely to approve the proposal in full, many fear its partial implementation could erode America’s global influence and undermine decades of diplomatic investment.
