Schumer: Trump Admin Budget Again Cuts Funding Aimed At Fighting Corruption In Ukraine Further Proving Linchpin Of Trump Defense In Impeachment Trial Was Total Fabrication

Washington, D.C.— Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s budget proposal that again cuts funding aimed at fighting corruption in Ukraine. Specifically, the Trump administration’s latest budget again proposes a cut of $17 million in support for anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine from the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement program and more than a $100 million cut in support for anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine from the Economic Support and Development Fund.  

“President Trump’s proposed cuts to anti-corruption funding for Ukraine further proves that one of the linchpins of the president’s defense in his impeachment trial was a total fabrication. Let’s be clear: the president has never been concerned with fighting corruption in Ukraine—only his own personal interests—as evidenced yet again by his latest budget proposal.”

Background:

ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT FUND: Requested Cut of More than $100 Million for Ukraine – President Trump’s budget seeks to consolidate assistance from four separate programs – then cut them. For Ukraine, this funding would be cut from $250 million to $145 million despite statements from the administration’s budget justification that that the program will “build local capacity to advance the rule of law, fight corruption, and strengthen governance” and that it “builds resilience against Russia’s malign influence,.” [Congressional Budget Justification for Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, pp. 72, 73-74, 119]

INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT: Requested Cut of $17 Million for Ukraine –President Trump’s budget would cut this anti-corruption program for Ukraine from $30 million to $13 million despite stating that the program combats “Russian malign influence, and other threats to U.S. national and economic security including corruption,”. [Congressional Budget Justification for Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; pp. 88-89, 123]

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