UNICEF Warns 'Children Will Suffer' As GOP Guts Aid Group's Funding : Igor Bobic / HuffPost

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Summary
In a party-line vote, Senate Republicans approved the Trump administration's proposal to rescind $137 million in U.S. funding for UNICEF and cut a total of $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting. The White House justified the cuts as a move toward efficiency and shifting responsibility to other donors.

UNICEF, however, warned the rescission would gravely affect its capacity to respond to crises, putting children’s lives at risk. The House is expected to follow suit. The cuts are part of a broader GOP push to downsize international aid, with some Republican senators citing fringe or false claims to justify the decision.

Quotes
“These resources ensure that UNICEF can be on the ground before, during, and after crises... Simply put, we will not be able to provide needed services next year if our FY25 U.S. contribution is rescinded and too many children will suffer or die as a result.” — Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director

“They told us they were spending money on humanitarian relief. And we found out they’re giving money to male prostitutes in Haiti. I’m not going to support that crap.” — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)

“If you were spending it on a transgender opera, or on sex workers in Nepal, we’re just taking that amount of money back...” — Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.)

“We are causing death now. We are spreading disease now. We are deepening starvation now.” — Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)

“The rescissions package has a big problem — nobody really knows what program reductions are in it.” — Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)