|
American Diplomacy and Global Leadership: Review of the FY25 State Department Budget Request
On Tuesday, May 21, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reviewed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the Department of State. The witness was the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Department of State.
The discussion largely focused on the Gaza war, with Blinken maintaining the Biden administration’s commitment to Israeli security despite threats to withhold weapons from Israel if its forces invade Rafah. He noted that the amount of humanitarian aid in Gaza remains insufficient and advocated for improved communication between soldiers and aid workers, and he asserted that an end to the war and a pathway to Palestinian statehood are necessary for Israel to achieve regional integration.
Blinken also rejected accusations that the administration was accommodating and emboldening Tehran through lax sanctions, saying that not a single sanction has been lifted on Iran. On Sudan, Blinken assured senators that the U.S. Special Envoy has sufficient resources, agreed that the U.S. must help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and suggested the Jeddah negotiations as a path forward.
Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Department of State
On Wednesday, May 22, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs discussed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the Department of State. The witness was the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Department of State.
Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of U.S. global leadership and coordination with partners, as well as the need for collaboration between Congress and the State Department to ensure the department has the resources it needs to address developing challenges. Regarding the Gaza war, Blinken asserted the aim of deterring threats, such as those on October 7, while also preventing human suffering in Gaza and regional spillover of the conflict. He discussed budget allocations for global internet access, climate security, global infrastructure, education and cultural exchange programs, expansion of the diplomatic corps, and modernization of the State Department, and, noting last year’s 5% budget cut, encouraged the committee to support this year’s proposed budget.
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for Near Eastern Affairs
On Thursday, May 23, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia discussed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. The witnesses were Barbara A. Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and Jeanne Pryor, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for the Middle East, USAID.
Assistant Secretary Leaf emphasized the critical need for diplomatic engagements and partnerships to address the escalating violence and instability in the region. She underscored the administration's commitment to a two-state solution and the importance of securing humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza, and she highlighted the challenges posed by Iran and its proxies, as well as the strategic maneuvers of Russia and China in the region.
Deputy Assistant Administrator Pryor discussed the MENA region’s economic and social challenges, noting the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the economic downturns in Jordan and Egypt, and the widespread youth unemployment. Pryor emphasized the importance of the proposed budget increases to support post-conflict recovery efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, bolster resilience in Lebanon, and assist Morocco in its earthquake recovery effort.
|