STATEN ISLAND, New York — Soon after major networks called the U.S. Presidential Election for President Joe Biden, the Biden campaign got to work on vetting and selecting core members of their cabinet to develop their domestic and foreign policy. The Biden Administration’s approach to foreign policy and aid predictably differs significantly from the Trump Administration’s. Taking into account the powers of the presidency, Biden’s record, commitments on the campaign trail and the advisors he has chosen to help develop his foreign policy, here are some ways that the Biden Administration aims to strengthen U.S. foreign aid.
Strengthening the International Affairs Budget
In an online event hosted by Meridian, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the Biden Administration in August, “We’d bring back aid to the center of our foreign policy.” With the Biden Administration pursuing a strong commitment to foreign aid, its best asset is the International Affairs Budget (IAB), which supplies funding to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Peace Corps.
The Trump administration had tried to slash federal funding for the IAB for the last four years, including a proposed 22% cut in the 2021 federal budget compared to the 2020 federal budget. Though Congress has rejected these cuts each year, the withdrawal of IAB funding still poses a significant risk to the U.S.’s position as a global leader on foreign assistance. By increasing the IAB’s funding for the 2022 fiscal year, the Biden Administration can strengthen its capacity to pursue and develop strong, effective foreign aid.
Supplying International COVID-19 Aid
The Biden Administration has entered the White House in the midst of the largest global health emergency in recent history. Although COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, the global community is still suffering from the spread of the coronavirus. According to the UN, landlocked countries, underdeveloped countries and developing island nations lack the national infrastructure to address the pandemic. As such, these countries are among those COVID-19 has hit the hardest. Nations such as Yemen, Afghanistan and Trinidad will require significant foreign aid in order to effectively stop the spread of coronavirus and supply their citizens with vaccines and adequate healthcare.
Several advocates for foreign aid in the U.S. Congress have pushed for various program funding increases. Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), for example, has pushed for an additional $20 billion in aid to be allocated to the IAB to assist countries struggling with the spread of coronavirus. With the Biden Administration making an effort to supply substantial foreign COVID-19 relief, the IAB is not only helping to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. It is also working to re-establish the U.S. as an international leader in global health.
Ending the Emergency Declaration at the Southern Border
A significant foreign and domestic issue for the last five years, the U.S.’s activities at the border with Mexico have made diplomatic negotiations with Central America and the implementation of foreign aid difficult. On February 15, 2019, President Trump put forth Proclamation 9844, declaring a national emergency at the southern border. The proclamation authorized the use of military action and called for $3.6 billion in military construction funds to protect the border.
Put forth by Rep. Castro in 2019, House Joint Resolution 46, called for an end to the President’s emergency declaration. The joint resolution passed both houses of Congress, but the President vetoed it. Now, however, the Biden Administration has ended the national emergency declared at the border and halted the construction of the border wall. This signals a political desire from the federal government to enter back into diplomatic talks with leaders in the Northern Triangle and divert the appropriated military funding to diplomatic foreign aid programs.
“Diplomacy, Democracy and Development”
Antony Blinken told Meridian that the Biden Administration’s foreign policy puts an emphasis “on diplomacy, on democracy and on development.” However, the foreign policy arm of the Biden Administration has its work cut out for it in 2021. A pandemic is ravaging domestic and foreign landscapes alike and the administration must rebuild the U.S.’s intricate foreign assistance infrastructure. Infrastructural adjustments such as increasing the IAB and strengthening ties with other nations are crucial to pursuing these goals. Should the Biden Administration continue to take on the challenges its agenda requires, it has a number of opportunities to make strides in improving global health and re-establishing America as a leader in foreign aid.
– Kieran Graulich
Photo: Wikimedia Commons