WASHINGTON D.C. — During the beginning of the Trump presidency, secretary of state, Rex Tillerson’s position on foreign aid aligned with the Trump administration’s “America First” policy. Tillerson agreed with the proposed cuts to the 2018 International Affairs budget. After six months on the job, Tillerson still approves these cuts. The proposed 2018 federal budget contains a 32 percent funding cut to the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This figure is significantly less than the over-budget expenditures in 2017 and what was appropriated in 2016. Tillerson believes this leaner budget will not compromise America’s global security…
Author: Mary Crowley
Mary Crowley
Mary writes for The Borgen Project from Shortsville, NY. She has a degree in Medical Journalism and Mary's other academic interests have gravitated toward pathophysiology, local social issues, and creative fiction. Mary is currently working on a collection of short stories and vignettes for publication. Each piece tells the story of a woman working through pain or injustice that is uniquely suffered by women.
PARIS — France’s role as a world leader may be growing. The country wishes to shape the policies and direction of the global community and France’s position on development aid is one tactic to do so. But where has France stood on development aid in the past? And what does the new president, Emmanuel Macron, believe the country’s role to be? According to France’s government website (last updated during President François Hollande’s term), France finances and partners with the E.U. on the development aid strategy, giving France a voice in global decisions. This portion of the development budget offers France…
WASHINGTON D.C. — Toward the end of June 2017, the Trump administration drafted an executive order forcing U.S. food aid to be shipped solely on U.S. flagged vessels. This endeavor would have been a part of President Trump’s “America First” agenda. Critics, including Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tom Hart of the One Campaign, both opposed the change because it would cost U.S. taxpayers more money and allow less food to be delivered at a slower rate. In response to the outcry, Trump decided not to go forward with his executive order. Current law requires that 50 percent of sea-based…
WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Senate has recently approved further sanctions on Russia for its cyber-attack during the 2016 U.S. elections. These sanctions require Congress to review any decisions made to end them. They also penalize foreign entities involved in Russia’s energy industry or any entity engaged in malicious cyber-activity. If passed by the House, these sanctions would add onto what the Obama administration ordered in 2016 (in response to the cyber-attack) as well as sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU for Russia’s annexation of Crimea. There is speculation as to whether sanctions are a successful geopolitical tool. Russian…
SEATTLE — Polio was once a common childhood disease throughout the world. In 1988, 350,000 people suffered from the viral infection, and the virus paralyzed an average of 1,000 children every day. Polio infections can cause mild symptoms such as fever and headaches. The infection often causes more serious symptoms such as paralysis of the legs and, in severe cases, causes death from suffocation by paralyzing the chest muscles. Over the past 30 years, much has been done to eradicate polio. Since the development of the oral polio vaccine, infection rates have gradually decreased around the world. It is now…
LONDON — The U.K. election held June 8, 2017, ended with surprising results. Early on in polls, prime minister Theresa May and the Conservative party hoped to gain 100 seats in parliament. They lost 12. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party gained 29 seats. These two parties are still the largest in Parliament, but the changing dynamics mean that policies such as foreign aid may have a different standing now. The Conservative party no longer holds a majority. While it is still the largest party in Parliament, its legislation will be harder to pass because other parties must support…
SEATTLE — Ending global poverty in all forms by 2030 is a challenging goal set by the U.N. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently declared that the U.S. needs to give more foreign assistance to aid the poorest people in the world. While the U.S. is a generous donor, the country spends less than 1 percent of the federal budget on all foreign assistance and diplomacy. Corker noted, however, that private sector interests intersect with development assistance. When the private sector fights poverty, it’s an investment in global markets, costs reductions, marketing and the…
SEATTLE — U.S. global health funding has contributed to great strides in combating the epidemics of our time. Within 15 years, the AIDs death rate decreased by 28 percent, the tuberculosis death rate has decreased by 22 percent and malaria deaths have decreased by 60 percent. These successes are due in part to George W. Bush’s President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) programs. The U.S. also sponsors USAID’s Tuberculosis Program and helps finance the Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Trump administration is considering significant cuts to these programs. Since…
SEATTLE — Measles is a highly contagious and potentially deadly viral infection. Nine out of 10 people who are unvaccinated and come in contact with the virus contract it. Rubella, also known as German measles, is not serious in children and adults but pregnant women can pass on it on to their unborn babies, causing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). This condition can cause severe, life-long birth defects or miscarriages. Both these devastating diseases are preventable with simple, inexpensive vaccines, like those provided through the Measles and Rubella Initiative. Although measles is preventable, it is still one of the major causes…
GENEVA — Former South Carolina governor and state House representative, Nikki Haley has joined the Trump administration as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.). Advocates for the world’s vulnerable are encouraged by Trump’s pick because Haley is a second-generation immigrant of Indian parents (and a woman as well). As a way to relate to her fellow citizens, Haley cites her humble beginnings of being raised by immigrants in a small rural town. People hope these qualities will help her identify with the people that the U.N. helps. Ambassador Haley’s record on human rights is beginning to develop. During…