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Dear Board of Directors:

As I am sure you saw today, OMB submitted its FY18 budget guidance to all departments and agencies, and published reports indicate that the budget level for the State Department and USAID will be cut at least 30% from current levels. Of great concern, is that the White House press spin includes a specific reference to “significant cuts to foreign aid.” We’re picking up rumors that the cuts to USAID will be substantial with some programs zeroed out.

The center piece of our press response to this expected, but disappointing news, was our letter signed by 121 retired generals and admirals – earning the front page of CNN.com for hours along with more than 15 top national hits from the Washington Post to FOX to POLITICO and beyond.

Here are the details:

§ The proposed cuts to the International Affairs Budget are not only draconian, but disproportionate – particularly compared to the rest of the national security budget.

§ The funding level would strip America’s civilian forces back to funding levels not seen since 9/11, unimaginable given today’s global threats from ISIS to pandemics like Ebola.

§ Agencies have 48 hours to respond and pushback against OMB’s proposal.

Overall caps remain in place with defense spending increasing by $54 billion. With no changes to entitlements, increases to veterans spending, Homeland Security (the wall), and the Department of Justice, reports are that on average most non-defense discretionary agencies will see 15% cuts, meaning the 30% cut that State/USAID will face puts us in the company of the EPA as one of the agencies taking the steepest cut. Click here<http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2017/02/State_Budget_Background_Talking_Points.docx> for additional talking points.

The USGLC went into full campaign mode this morning:

§ PRESSWORK. Pushed out press release<http://www.usglc.org/2017/02/27/over-120-retired-generals-admirals-on-state-and-usaid-budget-now-is-not-the-time-to-retreat/> with a strong statement from me and letter<http://www.usglc.org/downloads/2017/02/FY18_International_Affairs_Budget_House_Senate.pdf> by 121 retired military leaders to Congressional leaders calling for support for the International Affairs Budget. Several of our military leaders were available for press, and will remain so this week.

§ CONGRESS. We urged Members of Congress to speak out publicly or contact Secretary Tillerson directly about OMB passbacks. Many released public statements.

§ FORMER SECRETARIES. We mobilized several former Secretaries of State to weigh in with Tillerson and the White House.

§ USGLC MEMBERS. We mobilized our membership – including many of you – to contact the Hill, Administration, and mobilize their members.

§ ALLIES. And we are mobilizing a broad network of former Democratic and Republican Administration officials who are working their networks.

How can you help?

§ Share the military letter on Twitter<https://twitter.com/USGLC/status/836270903038103552> and Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/USGLC/posts/10154455076647773>.

§ Call your contacts inside Secretary Tillerson’s office and ask that they push back against OMB’s proposal.

§ Ask key Members of Congress to weigh in directly with Tillerson and/or Mulvaney.

§ National Mobilization – We’re still planning to mobilize all our wider grasstops and grassroots networks during our national mobilization – the week of March 20th.

The State Department has 48 hours to respond to OMB’s initial proposal and there could be another round of negotiations next week. The Administration will publicly release the budget on March 16th—so while the next two days are critical, it ain’t over until it’s over. We will remain in overdrive mode.

Here are some of the top press clips we’ve already seen:

§ CNN: Retired Generals: Don't Cut State Department (see screenshot below!)

§ FOX BUSINESS NEWS: Trump Seeks 'Historic' Increase of 9% in U.S. Military's Budget<http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/02/27/trump-seeks-historic-increase-9-in-u-s-militarys-budget.html>

§ REUTERS: Retired U.S. Military Officers Urge Congress to Fully Fund Diplomacy, Aid<http://thehill.com/policy/defense/321395-retired-generals-urge-congress-to-fully-fund-diplomacy>

§ THE WASHINGTON POST: Retired Generals Cite Past Comments From Mattis While Opposing Trump’s Proposed Foreign Aid Cuts <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/02/27/retired-generals-cite-past-comments-from-mattis-while-opposing-trumps-proposed-foreign-aid-cuts/?utm_term=.409178e67742>

§ POLITICO: Diplomats Worry Trump Plans to Starve State With Cuts<http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-budget-state-department-235454>

§ U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT: Retired U.S. Military Officers Urge Congress to Fully Fund Diplomacy, Aid<https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2017-02-27/retired-us-military-officers-urge-congress-to-fully-fund-diplomacy-aid>

§ FINANCIAL TIMES: Trump Calls for More Military Spending

§ ABC: Donald Trump Budget to Increase Defense Spending by $70 billion, White House Says<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-28/trump-seeks-historic-increase-in-us-defense-spending/8309134>

While this budget proposal is nothing we didn’t discuss at the Board meeting, it does feel like a punch in the stomach. This is serious and challenging. We’re executing our plan and will need your help every step of the way. So get ready to rumble my friends!

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

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