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Dear Board of Directors,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful holiday.

Just four days in and 2018 is already off to an interesting start, with early indications that we will be facing similar challenges as last year:

1. Senator Paul on the Attack

* With President Trump threatening to cut off aid to Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority, Senator Rand Paul announced Tuesday on FOX News that he plans to introduce legislation, perhaps as early as next week that would make cuts to the International Affairs Budget and redirect those funds towards “rebuilding infrastructure here at home.”
* He could force a vote on the measure – perhaps during consideration of a budget deal or FY18 omnibus.
* We’ll keep a close eye on this and are prepared to mobilize if it comes up for a vote.

2. FY19 Intel

* Early indication is that the Administration’s FY19 Budget request will once again include deep and disproportional cuts to international affairs programs – likely even deeper than the 32% cut proposed in FY18.
* Apparently Secretary Tillerson opposed these cuts, but was unable to move OMB after backing himself into a corner with his lack of support of resources all year – too little, too late Mr. Secretary!
* The FY19 request is not expected to include significant new funds for the redesign, as new funding requests are not expected until FY20.

3. New Administration Nominations

* Former USGLC board member and wife of HFAC Chairman, Marie Royce, has been nominated to be Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
* Josephine (Jodi) Olsen has been nominated to be Director of the Peace Corps, where she was a Deputy and Acting Director from 2001-2009. Her appointment was widely praised by the National Peace Corps Alumni Association and other coalition partners.

I look forward to seeing you at our Strategy Retreat January 31 – February 1. Please be on the lookout for our agenda and line-up of speakers in the next couple of weeks and RSVP to Emily at ebenovitz@usglc.org<mailto:ebenovitz@usglc.org>.

More soon,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC