{"id":25360,"date":"2025-06-13T22:02:41","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25360"},"modified":"2025-06-13T22:02:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:02:42","slug":"letter-opposed-rescissions-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/letter-opposed-rescissions-package\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs letter opposing rescissions package"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Church of the Brethren\u2019s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy was one of dozens of religious, humanitarian, and other nonprofit organizations joining in a letter to members of Congress opposing the White House rescissions proposal that was approved by the House of Representatives this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile the White House argues that these rescissions will make the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous, we, the undersigned 78 organizations, lament the proposal will achieve the opposite,\u201d the letter said, in part. \u201cWe urge you to oppose the rescission of any foreign assistance funds related to urgent human needs, including food, medical and humanitarian aid, and to global stability and resilience, such as peacebuilding, poverty-focused development assistance, climate resilience and good governance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rescissions package, if also passed by the Senate, will cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved federal funding. Media reported that it will \u201cclaw back\u201d $8.3 billion for foreign aid and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that provides funding to NPR and PBS, and is part of an effort by the administration to codify cuts proposed by DOGE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following is the full text of the letter with a list of all the signers:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

June 5, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Member of Congress:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We write to express our deep concern about the White House rescissions package (Rescission proposal no. R25-1) dated May 28, 2025. While the White House argues that these rescissions will make the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous, we, the undersigned 78 organizations, lament the proposal will achieve the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We urge you to oppose the rescission of any foreign assistance funds related to urgent human needs, including food, medical and humanitarian aid, and to global stability and resilience, such as peacebuilding, poverty-focused development assistance, climate resilience and good governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rescissions package seeks to make legal the Trump administration\u2019s draconian cuts to foreign assistance programs. Providing Congressional approval for these cuts will result in otherwise preventable deaths, the spread of infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance, and increased global poverty, instability and violence. These cuts will not only have a devastating impact on civilians across the globe, they will also make Americans more vulnerable and less safe. These cuts will create vacuums in leadership that allow infectious disease, instability and violence to spread, undermining U.S. national security interests, disrupting U.S. trade, harming U.S. credibility as a steadfast partner to its allies, and allowing malign actors to increase their influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The constitution is clear: Congress guides, not obeys, the executive branch on matters of federal spending. We strongly urge Congress to protect its constitutional authority and reject these rescissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rescinding these previously appropriated funds for foreign assistance defies the long-held values of the United States and the current views of its people. A Pew Research Center survey found that 68% of U.S. adults wanted to maintain or increase spending on foreign aid, and this past February the University of Maryland found that 89% of Americans believed the U.S. should invest at least 1% of its federal budget in foreign assistance, in line with current Congressional appropriations. In fact, the majority of Republicans said the U.S. should invest at least 5% of the federal budget in foreign assistance, with majorities of Democrats and Independents calling for at least 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans are generous. In 1917 President Wilson established the U.S. Food Agency and, shortly thereafter, the American Relief Administration (ARA), which supplied 34-million tons of American food, clothing and supplies to Europeans affected by World War I. The ARA leveraged Congressional appropriations and private donations to provide critical rations to Soviet civilians during the Povolzhye famine. Over a century later, this legacy of generosity has continued through both Congressional appropriations and Americans\u2019 pocketbooks. In 2023, Americans donated $29.94 billion in private charitable giving to organizations focused on international aid, development, peace and humanitarian relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, private philanthropy cannot match the scope and scale of U.S. government funding, material support, and influence. Federal investment in foreign assistance is irreplaceable and essential. Prior to the administration\u2019s cuts to foreign assistance programs, the United States was the world\u2019s largest provider of food, medical and humanitarian assistance\u2014while spending less on foreign assistance as a proportion of its income than many of its allies. Other donors cannot fill this gap, as neither private philanthropy\u2014whether from foundations, corporations, faith groups, or individuals\u2014nor donor nation has the influence, wealth or prosperity of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approving this rescission package would be a death sentence for thousands in the coming years, with serious consequences for the security and health of Americans. Without this tool, the U.S. government will be limited in its ability to constructively prevent and mitigate crises at a time when global violence is on the rise. And as programs to address humanitarian crises and prevent the spread of violence and disease shutter, the inevitable impact will be a vacuum in leadership that other nations and malign actors will be eager to fill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress has supported foreign assistance in a bipartisan manner for decades, as most recently seen when members approved funding for foreign assistance just a few months ago in the FY 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We strongly urge Congress to protect its constitutional authority and to oppose the rescission of any foreign assistance funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alliance for Peacebuilding
Alliance of Baptists
Alliance to End Hunger
The Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice
American Friends Service Committee
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
American Public Health Association
Amnesty International USA
Anethum Global
Bread for the World
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
Center for International Policy Advocacy
Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy
Church World Service
Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
CODEPINK
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Council for Global Equality
Disabled Children’s Fund
EngenderHealth
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Foreign Policy for America FP2030
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth United States
Global Health Council
Global Rights for Women
Guttmacher Institute
HIAS
Hindus for Human Rights
Hope Border Institute
Human Rights First
International Center for Research on Women
Invisible Children
J Street
JAMAAT – Jews and Muslims and Allies Acting Together
Jewish Earth Alliance- PA
Journal of Social Encounters
Justice in Motion
Latin America Working Group
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light
Minnesota Peace Project
MPower Change Action Fund
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Nonviolent Peaceforce
Oxfam America
PAI
PartnersGlobal
Pax Christi USA
Peace Direct
Physicians for Human Rights
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
The People’s Justice Council
Population Connection Action Fund
Population Council
Population Institute
Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Saferworld
Search for Common Ground
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sojourners
Together for Girls
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
United Church of Christ
United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA)
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Washington Office on Latin America
Win Without War
Women’s Refugee Commission<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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