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How Trump undermined US aid - a thread 
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1/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/trump-undermined-us-aid-still-spent-billions-transactional/
#Election2020
1/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/trump-undermined-us-aid-still-spent-billions-transactional/
When Donald Trump became president in 2016, his victory was based on an “America First” platform.
In the administration's debut budget in 2017, that looked like catastrophic news for those who came in second: the rest of the world, particularly low- and middle-income countries.
In the administration's debut budget in 2017, that looked like catastrophic news for those who came in second: the rest of the world, particularly low- and middle-income countries.
The budget initially proposed a cut of around 30% to foreign assistance, an approach that left those in the sector aghast.
“It would have eliminated the foreign aid programme in 27 countries. I've never seen anything like that in my time,” said Larry Nowels of @ModernizeAid.
“It would have eliminated the foreign aid programme in 27 countries. I've never seen anything like that in my time,” said Larry Nowels of @ModernizeAid.
But in a pattern that has been repeated every year since, Congress - where foreign aid has bipartisan support - rejected the cuts and kept spending roughly where it has been for years, at $52.5bn in 2020.
(That's despite attempts every year to reduce funding 20-30%)
(That's despite attempts every year to reduce funding 20-30%)
While it is the world's largest provider of foreign assistance in terms of dollars, America falls near the bottom of the OECD countries when spending is compared to its gross national income. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/trump-undermined-us-aid-still-spent-billions-transactional/
Yet for decades the US has remained the biggest player on the global stage thanks to its sheer spending power.
“Even when they're not realised, the act of proposing deep cuts can be damaging” explained @e_collinson. NGOs get tied up with admin; important relationship are damaged
“Even when they're not realised, the act of proposing deep cuts can be damaging” explained @e_collinson. NGOs get tied up with admin; important relationship are damaged
Foreign aid also became a bargaining chip under President Trump.
The most blatant example was in Ukraine. But his administration also cut off funding to the West Bank and Gaza and re-routed money from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to Colombia and Venezuela.
The most blatant example was in Ukraine. But his administration also cut off funding to the West Bank and Gaza and re-routed money from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to Colombia and Venezuela.
Then of course there was the vast expansion of the Mexico City Policy, or “global gag rule”.
The executive order effectively prevents any non-US charity which relies on American funding offering abortion services, talking about terminations or referring women to other services.
The executive order effectively prevents any non-US charity which relies on American funding offering abortion services, talking about terminations or referring women to other services.
The policy has been a stalwart of Republican presidents since Ronald Reagan, but under Trump the scope has dramatically expanded.
“Trump has taken a bad policy and made it worse,” said @_ninaelizabeth_ of @IntlWomen.
“Trump has taken a bad policy and made it worse,” said @_ninaelizabeth_ of @IntlWomen.
Now, with just one day to go until the US election, many NGOs are hoping for a @JoeBiden victory, fearing that another four years of @realDonaldTrump could do irreparable damage.
Read more https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/trump-undermined-us-aid-still-spent-billions-transactional/
Read more https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/trump-undermined-us-aid-still-spent-billions-transactional/
