With the total U.S Budget deficit being $1.38T in 2022, some U.S senators such as Senator Rick Scott has criticized President Biden’s Budget proposal saying, “The U.S has a $2T problem. Mr. Biden’s budget won’t solve it.”. The International Affairs Budget is a vital component of U.S security. Unfortunately, it is also an easy target for deficit relief.
The U.S spends $30B (1%) on foreign aid. Comparatively, $663B goes towards military spending. That is $73 per American on aid and $1,763 per American on defense.
While military spending may be important, I believe the significance foreign aid plays in national security is underestimated. The world’s most dangerous countries are also among the world’s poorest.
Nearly every post 9/11 Secretary of defense has advocated that Congress better fund the International Affairs Budget. Former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates repeatedly said that the U.S can’t win today’s national security challenges with force and military might alone.
While reducing the budget deficit may be imperative, I hope that Congress does not look towards the International Affairs Budget to do so. Non-Profit Organizations such as the Borgen Project has a multitude of information surrounding this topic and I highly recommend taking a look at their website.
Joshua Evans
Altamonte Springs