WASHINGTON – The USGLC President and CEO, Liz Schrayer, issued the following statement on the release of the Administration Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request:

Clearly, Congress is going to call ‘strike three’ when it comes to the Administration’s latest attempt to propose dangerous and disproportionate cuts to the International Affairs Budget, particularly after having rejected similar efforts over the last two years.

I am confident they will heed the call of America’s former Combatant Commanders who are speaking out forcefully in support of our nation’s development and diplomacy programs. Few understand the global threats better – from an expansionist China to continued violent extremism to a resurgent Ebola.

While the Administration is right to prioritize development finance and women’s economic empowerment, we can’t risk cutting a quarter of America’s civilian footprint in the world if we hope to protect our security and economic interests.

The full statement from the former U.S. Combatant Commanders is available here.