Pentagon Splits With House GOP on Foreign Aid

The Pentagon and House Republicans have divergent views on foreign aid. While the House’s continuing budget resolution includes a $121 million, or 9 percent, cut for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) annual budget, top Pentagon officials are opposed, The Hill reports.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. David Petraeus have spoken out strongly against cuts in foreign aid. And the State Department has adopted the same stance.

But GOP congressional aides tell The Hill that Republicans are adamant. Last year’s election results showed that voters want hefty spending reductions, including foreign aid, they say.

“I’m frankly surprised that there are so many congressional Democrats arguing loudly against cutting spending when the reverberating demand from the voters is: cut spending,” one aide said.