Trump objects to spending provisions for assistance to Belize, Central America in appropriation bill

Published by BBN Staff at December 26, 2020

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Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2020. 6:46 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: While not outrightly saying he would veto the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, which balances COVID-19 related relief with other typical spending provisions for the running of the American Government, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has advised Congress to take out “wasteful and unnecessary items” and target more of the bill’s spending to struggling Americans.

“Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests, while sending the bare minimum to the American people, who need it. [The pandemic] was not their fault, it was [the People’s Republic of] China’s fault, not their fault,” said Trump, asking to increase the relief payment to Americans from US$600 to US$2,000, or US$4,000 for couples.

Among that wasteful spending, summarized in a short address from the White House this week, is “(US$)505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama;” in other words, Central America, in alphabetical order.

Section 7045 of the Act says the funds “shall be prioritized for programs and activities that address the key factors that contribute to the migration of unaccompanied, undocumented minors to the United States and such funds shall be made available for global health, humanitarian, development, democracy, border security, and law enforcement programs for such countries, including for programs to reduce violence against women and girls and to combat corruption, and for support of commissions against corruption and impunity, as appropriate,” as well as provides support activities to combat corruption and impunity. Most of the funding will be routed through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI).

Trump said if he does not get a suitable bill, he would leave the matter with the forthcoming administration, though he was quick to add that “maybe that Administration will be me,” again pushing the false and failed narrative that he won the 2020 presidential election over president-elect Joe Biden. Allies have threatened to challenge the results in the Electoral College when it meets on January 6, pending the results of the Georgia Senate run-off races.

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