Today, the White House revealed that its first budget proposal would call for a $54 billion increase in defense spending offset by cuts to foreign aid and other programs—even though foreign aid is currently less than 1% of all U.S. spending. As a bipartisan organization working to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, we have a lot of thoughts on that proposal. But we think these eight quotes from U.S. military officials say it best:
“If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.” – General James Mattis [Source]
“Our security will be improved by sustaining foreign aid in the years ahead rather than by making further cuts.” – General David Petraeus [Source]
“I am concerned that levels of funding for our State Department and USAID partners will not sufficiently enable them to build on the hard-fought security achievements of our men and women in uniform. Inadequate resourcing of our civilian partners could, in fact, jeopardize accomplishment of the overall mission.” – General David Petraeus [Source]
“Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.” – Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates [Source]
“Development contributes to stability. It contributes to better governance. And if you are able to do those things and you’re able to do them in a focused and sustainable way, then it may be unnecessary for us to send soldiers.” – Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates [Source]
“Support for development is a vital component of America’s national security strategy.” – Former National Security Advisor and retired Marine Corps General James Jones [Source]
“A fully-integrated foreign policy requires a fully-resourced approach. Our troops, Foreign Service officers and development experts work side-by-side in unprecedented and ever-increasing cooperation as they execute our strategic programs.” – Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and retired Navy Admiral Michael Mullen [Source]
“USAID’s efforts can do as much over the long term to prevent conflict as the deterrent effect of a carrier strike group or a marine expeditionary force.” – Former Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan Lieutenant General John Allen [Source]
Want to help? Call your senators this morning and ask them to protect the foreign assistance budget!
