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Dear Board of Directors,

Tomorrow at 7AM, the Administration will release its budget request to Congress. While the cuts are not expected to be the 37% to State/USAID we heard two weeks ago, they reportedly still will be significantly disproportionate and dramatically deep at around 28%.

Our efforts over the past two weeks inside the Administration helped, but I am so deeply saddened by the choices this Administration is making, and the rhetoric they have chosen.

On an embargoed press call earlier today, OMB Director Mick Mulvaney kicked off the discussion by saying “This budget is an America First budget... We will reduce State, EPA, and foreign assistance.” It is hard to fathom that in the entire federal budget, the State Department and foreign assistance are the primary focus areas to spotlight. He described the budget as a “hard power budget, not a soft power budget.”

Please watch for the following tomorrow:

§ With our partners, we will launch a powerful letter of 106 center-right faith leaders in support of the International Affairs Budget. The USGLC reached out to World Vision and CRS to help organize this letter after the success of the military letter, and I believe it will be extremely helpful to our friends on Capitol Hill.

§ The USGLC will release a press statement early in the morning and a full analysis of the budget later in the day.

§ The USGLC is booking faith leaders and our generals on cable shows and radio over the next few days.

§ We are working with our friends on Capitol Hill to maximize their voice, including a press conference from members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

§ We’re gearing up for our nationwide/community-wide mobilization next week that will reach more than 3 million people thanks to all of you to call about 302(b) allocations. In addition:

o We will be mobilizing 10,000 veterans to call their members of Congress

o We will host 15 three and four star Generals on Capitol Hill on Tuesday

o We are organizing a massive in-district meeting mobilization for April recess

I will send you copies of all of these letters and statements tomorrow and thank you for your continued help, support, and activism. This is unlike anything we have experienced or imagined. The reaction from Capitol Hill has been enormously appreciative. More tomorrow.

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC