President Trump’s Budget Recommendation: Drastic Cuts (once again) for Global Health and Development

By Jenny Eaton Dyer, PhD

Last week, President Trump released his annual request for the FY21 budget. During the previous three years, the Administration recommended a drastic cut for the international affairs account for foreign assistance.

This year, the president’s recommended budget proposes a 22% overall cut to the account. (Read more here for full coverage on the account)

For Global Nutrition in the global health account, the budget proposes $90 million, a recommended reduction of $60 million from this year’s enacted budget appropriated by Congress ($150 million), or a 40% cut.

For the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the budget proposes $658 million, a cut of $902 million compared to this year’s enacted budget appropriated by Congress ($1.56B), a recommended 58% cut. Alongside this, the Administration the proposal is to reduce the U.S. share of support to the Global Fund, from 33 percent to 25 percent, ignoring the clear intention of Congress to maintain the traditional U.S. share as stated in explanatory commentary in the latest enacted House and Senate bills.

As in the previous three years, we believe the House and Senate will once again reject these recommendations made by the Administration and protect funding for the international affairs account, including these niche accounts.

That said, we ask that you stay alert to opportunities to share your support and advocacy to protect this important funding which goes to save the lives of millions.