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Clinton Warns Against Cuts in State Department Budget

15 February 2011 04:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says cuts being suggested by Republican members of Congress in the State Department budget for the 2012 fiscal year would have a devastating effect, APA reports quoting voanews.com website.

Clinton met Monday with the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, John Boehner. She called the proposed cuts â€œdevastatingâ€ to U.S. national security interests.

State Department officials revealed a budget plan that entails almost no growth in spending. It also includes ending or cutting aid to nearly 30 countries.

Clinton said she is especially concerned about maintaining funding for Iraq, where as U.S. troops withdraw the State Department’s role increases. Also anticipated is a greater U.S. civilian role in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The department budget request includes military assistance for U.S. allies in the Middle East. Israel is slated to receive about $3 billion, while Egypt, despite the political turmoil, is to get $1.3 billion. Jordan also is due to get military aid.

Despite the fact that a State Department official says the entire budget has been â€œscrubbedâ€ for savings, Republicans are proposing reductions virtually across the board in U.S. government agencies.