Politics

Trump's Budget Cuts Could Affect Embassies And Diplomats

By slashing funding for the State Department and foreign aid, President Donald Trump's budget proposal might cut into embassy security.

Trump's Budget Cuts Could Affect Embassies And Diplomats
Getty Images / John Moore
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Republicans spent two years and $6.8 million investigating the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya.

But President Donald Trump's new budget could weaken embassy security.

In its current form, the proposal will cut deep into the budgets for the State Department and for foreign aid.

Putting Trump's Military Spending (And Cuts To The Arts) In Context
Putting Trump's Military Spending (And Cuts To The Arts) In Context

Putting Trump's Military Spending (And Cuts To The Arts) In Context

The U.S. spends as much as the next 12 countries combined on its military.

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That money covers everything from embassy security to providing humanitarian relief or preventing pandemics.

"It's dead on arrival," Sen. Lindsey Graham said on MSNBC. "It's not going to happen. It would be a disaster. If you take soft power off the table, then you're never going to win the war."

Over 120 retired generals and admirals signed a letter urging Congress not to cut funding for the State Department and for foreign aid.