Posted on 03/30/2019 9:18:21 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
In a stunning about-face, State Department officials said that President Donald Trump is cutting off all direct assistance to the so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
At the Secretarys instruction, we are carrying out the Presidents direction and ending FY [fiscal year] 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle, a State Department spokesperson told ABC News, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process. (MORE: Trump threatens to completely close southern border as early as next week if Mexico doesn't stop 'illegal immigration')
These three countries are the primary source of migrants to the U.S., but for years the U.S. has worked with them to stabilize their political environments and economies and end violence and corruption so that migrants wouldnt leave in the first place.
Trump hinted at the cuts earlier on Friday, telling reporters,Ive ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras, and to El Salvador. No money goes there anymore.
While the president has threatened these cuts before, this time the administration is actually following through.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
“I thought this had already been done.”
I’m not sure it’s being done even now. From the article:
At the Secretarys instruction, we are carrying out the Presidents direction and ending FY [fiscal year] 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle, a State Department spokesperson told ABC News, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We will be engaging Congress as part of this process. (MORE: Trump threatens to completely close southern border as early as next week if Mexico doesn’t stop ‘illegal immigration’)”
I don’t understand why they’re talking about FY 2017 and 2018. Is it because funds from those fiscal years have not been disbursed yet?
And how do they engage Congress as part of this cutting off? Do they think they need Congress’ approval?
My guess ies the budgeted amounts to these countries
hasn’t been allocated for 2019, and Trump is involving
congress to let them know the thbat the 2019 budgets
wnont include thes amounts.
They would freak right the hell out.
Do it.
Not many Invaders from Belize or Costa Rica. There is a reason. Cut the money.
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