A group of lawmakers aim to drastically increase funding for diplomatic and foreign aid, an opening salvo from Democrats to correct the “militarization” of U.S. foreign policy in recent decades.
The lawmakers—Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Ami Bera and David Cicilline—are calling for a 20 percent increase in funding to the U.S. State Department and other foreign aid and development agencies, amounting to $12 billion. They say the increased funding will focus on addressing climate change, preventing future pandemics, and confronting China as it emerges as the United States’ global superpower rival.
