White House Proposes 50% Cut to State Department

White House Proposes 50% Cut to State Department \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The White House is proposing a nearly 50% cut to the State Department’s budget, aiming to reduce diplomatic staff, close missions, and eliminate funding for international organizations including the UN and NATO. Though still in early stages, the plan has raised alarm among diplomats and lawmakers. Critics warn the cuts risk weakening U.S. global influence and security.

Quick Looks

• White House proposes cutting State Department budget by almost 50%.
• Plan includes closing U.S. embassies, slashing staff, and eliminating aid.
• Funding for the UN, NATO, and global health programs could be axed.
• Proposal still in early review stages; final budget requires congressional approval.
• Plan mirrors similar failed attempts from Trump’s first term.
• USAID and other soft power agencies already dismantled or defunded.
• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says cuts would hurt national security and global stability.
• Proposal surfaced as State was presenting unrelated reorganization plan to OMB.
• Foreign assistance would drop by over 25%, staff pay frozen, benefits reduced.
• Refugee, global health, and resettlement programs targeted for elimination.

Deep Look

In a sweeping move that underscores the Trump administration’s effort to dramatically shrink the federal government, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has put forward a radical budget proposal that would cut the State Department’s funding by nearly half, eliminate major diplomatic programs, and defund global institutions long seen as pillars of U.S. foreign policy.

The proposed cuts, still in the early stages of internal review, were presented to the State Department last week, sparking alarm within diplomatic circles and on Capitol Hill. According to officials familiar with the plan, the blueprint seeks to gut foreign assistance, close multiple overseas embassies, slash U.S. diplomatic staffing, and terminate contributions to international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO headquarters.

Though unlikely to be approved by Congress in its current form, the proposal offers a clear signal of the administration’s “America First” foreign policy priorities — focused on reducing global engagement, cutting costs, and shifting away from multilateral cooperation.

Inside the Proposal

Internal meeting notes reviewed by officials and circulated among foreign service staff reveal the scale and scope of the proposed changes:

• Foreign aid cuts: The plan would halve the $52 billion foreign assistance budget managed by the State Department and USAID, cutting more than a quarter overall.
• Diplomatic staff reduction: The department would see a freeze on pay through 2026, along with cuts to travel budgets and benefits for U.S. diplomats.
• Global health gutted: Except for minimal funds earmarked for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, global health programs would be defunded, with partner organizations expected to cover the difference.
• International partnerships eliminated: Funding would be cut entirely for the United Nations, NATO headquarters, and other NGOs, severely undermining U.S. logistical and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
• Refugee and migration programs dismantled: Several refugee-related programs would be eliminated, with responsibilities consolidated under a new Bureau for International Humanitarian Affairs.
• Afghan ally support axed: The office responsible for assisting Afghan allies fleeing Taliban rule would be eliminated, as would the independent watchdog overseeing U.S. programs in Afghanistan.

While the plan is not final and must undergo multiple rounds of internal and legislative review, it has already provoked fierce opposition — particularly among lawmakers.

Capitol Hill Pushback

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the proposed budget “deeply troubling,” warning that such drastic cuts would erode American leadership and security.

“When America First becomes America Alone, our economy, security and prosperity will suffer as adversaries fill the void,” she said in a statement. “Investments in diplomacy are not optional. They are critical to promoting peace, stability, and U.S. national interests.”

In past years, similar budget requests from Trump-era OMB officials were either heavily modified or rejected outright by bipartisan coalitions in Congress. However, with Trump now in his second term and having moved quickly to dismantle federal agencies, many in Washington fear that this proposal may stand a better chance of being implemented.

OMB director Russell Vought, who served in the same role during Trump’s first administration, is leading the current push — which mirrors his previous attempts to scale back foreign aid and diplomacy. While those efforts met resistance before, insiders say the political environment has shifted.

OMB spokesperson Alexandra McCandless stated Monday that “no final funding decisions have been made,” but confirmed the current version reflects the administration’s intent to “reprioritize American resources.”

A Broader Government Retrenchment

The proposed State Department cuts align with the administration’s broader effort to downsize federal functions, especially agencies linked to soft power and international development. Already, USAID has been dismantled, and funding for Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and similar outlets has been slashed.

These outlets, often tasked with promoting U.S. values abroad, are viewed by some in the administration as relics of Cold War-era foreign policy that no longer align with the current global strategy.

But foreign service officers and policy experts warn that retreating from these institutions could have dangerous long-term consequences, especially in areas where U.S. influence competes directly with rival powers like China and Russia.

With debate over the federal budget looming in Congress, the fate of the proposal — and the future of American diplomacy — hangs in the balance.

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