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Senators Grill Rex Tillerson on Spending Cuts Will Cuts Hurt Diplomacy? Tillerson Tries to Ease Senate’s Worries
(about 5 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson was subjected to a morning of rough, bipartisan criticism on Tuesday as senators from both parties denounced the Trump administration’s plans to cut the State Department’s budget by 31 percent. WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson was subjected to a full day of rough, bipartisan criticism on Tuesday as senators from both parties denounced the Trump administration’s plans to cut the State Department’s budget by about 30 percent.
Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee repeatedly asked whether issues such as the promotion of human rights, the protection of democracy, the campaign against human trafficking or efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons were priorities for the Trump administration. Senators repeatedly asked whether issues such as the promotion of human rights, the protection of democracy, the campaign against human trafficking or efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons were priorities for the administration.
Mr. Tillerson assured the lawmakers that they were. But senators from both parties pressed a fundamental question: How can the Trump administration say it champions those efforts if it also is slashing budgets for a range of important diplomatic initiatives — and eliminating others outright? Mr. Tillerson assured the lawmakers that they were. But Republican and Democratic senators pressed a fundamental question: How can the Trump administration say it champions those efforts if it is cutting budgets for a range of important diplomatic initiatives — and eliminating others outright?
Each time, Mr. Tillerson patiently answered that priorities should not be judged only by dollars spent.Each time, Mr. Tillerson patiently answered that priorities should not be judged only by dollars spent.
“Our budget will never determine our ability to be effective,” he said. “Our people will.”“Our budget will never determine our ability to be effective,” he said. “Our people will.”
But he also urged other nations in the world to do more. But he also urged other nations to do more.
Senator Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who leads the committee and was among those considered by President Trump for secretary of state, began the budget hearing by describing how he and his staff gathered on Monday to go through the administration’s budget request in detail. Senator Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and was among those considered by President Trump for secretary of state, began the day’s first budget hearing by describing how he and his staff members gathered on Monday to go through the administration’s budget request in detail.
“After about five minutes, I said: ‘This is a total waste of time. I don’t want to do this anymore,’ ” Mr. Corker said. “And the reason it’s a waste of time is, I think you know, the budget that’s been presented is not going to be the budget that we’re going to deal with. It’s just not.” “After about five minutes, I said: ‘This is a total waste of time. I don’t want to do this anymore,’” Mr. Corker said. “And the reason it’s a waste of time is, I think you know, the budget that’s been presented is not going to be the budget that we’re going to deal with. It’s just not.”
At the day’s second hearing, Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, became almost derisive as he pointed out what he said were the contrasts between global needs and resources in the president’s budget.
Despite the deaths at the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, for instance, the budget reduces funding for embassy security, Mr. Graham noted. Despite a looming famine for nearly 20 million people, he said, the budget cuts funding for disaster assistance.
Mr. Graham listed the wars in Syria and Afghanistan, the fight against the Islamic State, China’s rise and the conflict in Ukraine, among others.
“You’re going to do all that and cut the budget by 29 percent?” Mr. Graham asked with incredulity.
He concluded by accusing Mr. Tillerson of putting lives at risk. Mr. Graham was followed in his remarks by Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the committee.
“Well, I was going to be tough, but. …” Mr. Leahy said to laughter in the hearing room.
An exchange with Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, was typical of sentiments from the senators, who largely spend their public lives trying to align priorities and budgets.An exchange with Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, was typical of sentiments from the senators, who largely spend their public lives trying to align priorities and budgets.
“So my question, Mr. Secretary, is simple,” Mr. Mendendez said. “Does this administration believe that support of democracy and human rights is a reflection of American leadership and value? And a simple yes or no to that would be appreciated.” “So my question, Mr. Secretary, is simple,” Mr. Menendez said. “Does this administration believe that support of democracy and human rights is a reflection of American leadership and values? And a simple yes or no to that would be appreciated.”
“Yes,” Mr. Tillerson replied.“Yes,” Mr. Tillerson replied.
Mr. Menendez followed up, saying, “How can you say that then when the budget completely zeros out assistance for democracy assistance?”Mr. Menendez followed up, saying, “How can you say that then when the budget completely zeros out assistance for democracy assistance?”
Mr. Tillerson said that other parts of the budget could be used for the task. But, he conceded, “These are some of the hard choices that I mentioned.”Mr. Tillerson said that other parts of the budget could be used for the task. But, he conceded, “These are some of the hard choices that I mentioned.”
Senator Todd Young, Republican of Indiana, asked how the State Department was addressing the political obstacles that have prevented food and medical aid from reaching millions of people starving in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. Senator Todd Young, Republican of Indiana, asked how the State Department was addressing the political obstacles that had prevented food and medical aid from reaching millions of people starving in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
Mr. Tillerson answered that the department had spoken to the United Nations, an organization for which the Trump administration has proposed slashing support. But as with many issues, he repeated that other countries needed to do more. Mr. Tillerson answered that the department had spoken to the United Nations, an organization for which the Trump administration has proposed cutting support. But as with many issues, he repeated that other countries needed to do more.
“Again, on this issue, we’re trying to elicit participation by others, have others bring their own capacity as well,” he said.“Again, on this issue, we’re trying to elicit participation by others, have others bring their own capacity as well,” he said.
In response to a question from Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, about whether the Trump administration was withdrawing the United States from its longtime leadership position in global affairs, Mr. Tillerson said it was not. “I think as there’s a realistic and honest examination of what the American people have been asked to do relative to what some of our allies and partners have been asked to do, there’s a lack of alignment there,” he said.In response to a question from Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, about whether the Trump administration was withdrawing the United States from its longtime leadership position in global affairs, Mr. Tillerson said it was not. “I think as there’s a realistic and honest examination of what the American people have been asked to do relative to what some of our allies and partners have been asked to do, there’s a lack of alignment there,” he said.
Statistics show that many nations contribute far more on a per-capita basis to foreign aid than the United States. Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, mentioned an international school lunch program intended to save girls in the world’s poorest countries from slavery and prostitution.
“You eliminated it,” he said. “Now is that going to make for a better world and a safer world?”
Mr. Tillerson answered doggedly that other countries could decide to fund the program, but he added, “None of these choices are easy.”
Mr. Tillerson’s delays in naming his leadership team came in for some criticism, as did his new structure for the department. Senators said that with the fiscal year nearing an end, they would need some hint of how the department would be organized to fund it appropriately. Mr. Tillerson, an engineer, described the careful process he was undertaking for his reorganization.Mr. Tillerson’s delays in naming his leadership team came in for some criticism, as did his new structure for the department. Senators said that with the fiscal year nearing an end, they would need some hint of how the department would be organized to fund it appropriately. Mr. Tillerson, an engineer, described the careful process he was undertaking for his reorganization.
“Hopefully we will have some clarity around what that looks like by the end of this year,” Mr. Tillerson said of the department’s new structure. “Early next year we’ll begin implementation.”“Hopefully we will have some clarity around what that looks like by the end of this year,” Mr. Tillerson said of the department’s new structure. “Early next year we’ll begin implementation.”
“And when you say this year, you mean this fiscal year?” Mr. Corker asked hopefully, which would mean an announcement in September.“And when you say this year, you mean this fiscal year?” Mr. Corker asked hopefully, which would mean an announcement in September.
“This calendar year,” Mr. Tillerson answered — or three months later.“This calendar year,” Mr. Tillerson answered — or three months later.
“Calendar year,” Mr. Corker repeated, his eyebrows rising.“Calendar year,” Mr. Corker repeated, his eyebrows rising.