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Lawmaker says cutting NED and IAF would weaken U.S.; urges scrutiny of administration spending
Summary
A lawmaker defended funding for independent democracy programs, saying their combined FY26 budget is under $350 million and arguing cuts would harm U.S. interests abroad. He contrasted that sum with larger administration expenditures and called for scrutiny of alleged abuses.
A lawmaker speaking in a recorded session defended continued funding for independent democracy programs and urged oversight of larger administration expenditures.
"It is my belief that weakening independent agencies and organizations like Ned and IAF does not strengthen America," the lawmaker said, arguing such cuts would be "self defeating" and would undercut "some of the most effective tools we have to defend the mock democratic principles around the globe." He framed the programs as investments that help build a "safer, more secure, and more prosperous future."
The speaker said the programs deliver value for U.S. interests and finances. "The combined fiscal year 26 budget for Ned and IAF was less than $350,000,000 to advance core US interests in every region of the world for years to come," the lawmaker said, calling that level of funding an "extraordinary return on investment for the American people." The transcript does not provide an independent source for the budget figure.
He contrasted that amount with other federal spending priorities, asserting the programs cost less than several items tied to the administration. The lawmaker said the $350 million figure is "less than what American taxpayers will pay to fund the renovations of Trump's new Air Force 1 jet gifted to him by Qatar" and added that "that's just 1 fifth of the $1,800,000,000 the administration is stealing from American taxpayers for Trump's new secret slush fund." He also said it was "not even half of what Republicans are insisting the American people pay for Trump's White House ballroom." Those characterizations and dollar figures were presented by the lawmaker in the remarks and are not substantiated by supporting documents in the transcript.
The speaker further alleged substantial daily costs related to military action, saying "that's less than 1 half of the estimated $1,000,000,000 the American people are paying every single day to fund Trump's reckless war choice in Iran." The transcript records the allegation but does not provide sourcing for the estimate.
The lawmaker closed by saying there are "real ways, fraud, and abuse that we should also be scrutinizing," urging oversight and further review of spending priorities.
The remarks in the transcript were delivered by a single speaker who did not state a name or official title in the provided segments; the article attributes all quoted material to that speaker as "Lawmaker." The transcript shows no formal motions or votes tied to these remarks.
