WASHINGTON­ – The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s President and CEO Liz Schrayer released the following statement on the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request to Congress:

“Since these wildly disproportionate and dangerous cuts to the State Department and USAID were announced nearly two months ago, the growing chorus of voices in opposition has become deafeningly clear. Leading Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, the highest ranks of the U.S. military, evangelical and Catholic leaders, and our nation’s CEOs have all weighed in: The stakes are just too high for America to retreat.

The President’s trip overseas is a powerful reminder of the importance of American global leadership. Slashing the development and diplomacy budget by one-third will only make it harder to achieve the goals outlined in the Administration’s budget justification released today – defending our national security, asserting American leadership, and promoting U.S. economic interests. It doesn’t add up – particularly at a time of extreme global challenges like ISIS, famine, and the emergence of global health threats.

This message has echoed across Capitol Hill, and now it is time for lawmakers to put their stamp on the 2018 budget and ensure that our diplomats and development workers have the resources they need to keep our country safe.”