This week we reported on a House foreign affairs subcommittee hearing in which Republicans tried to paint the U.S. government’s entire approach to foreign assistance as wasteful and counterproductive — but they faced pushback from Democrats who argued that human rights grants are critical in the global contest between democracy and autocracy.

The hearing took place against the backdrop of a proposed House of Representatives budget bill that would impose an 11% cut across U.S. foreign affairs spending, which would be 19% less than what President Joe Biden requested. The proposed funding bill cuts “wasteful spending” and “continues reestablishing American leadership” where the Biden administration has been lacking.

We also look back at an event that took place in Washington D.C., during which U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed tackling humanitarian crises, adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence, and partnering with other nations to drive development through debt relief and infrastructure "corridors" connecting regions.

Meanwhile, during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, or SIDS, concerned countries called for debt relief and more concessional funding to deliver on a 10-year strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and build resilient economies. We highlight how a lack of support could decimate local livelihoods and lead to climate-induced migration.

For the latest episode of the podcast series, Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar sits down with Liz Hume, executive director at the Alliance for Peacebuilding, as well as Devex Managing Editor Anna Gawel, to discuss this week’s top global development stories.

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