The New York Times reported Sunday that the State Department has spent exactly $0 out of the $120 million it was granted to prevent Russian meddling in the 2018 elections.
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who didn’t even want his job and claims he only took it because his wife convinced him to, is responsible for the lack of action. Soon before Trump took office, Congress approved a $60 million budget for the State Department to combat election meddling efforts from Russia and China. After Tillerson spent seven months deciding whether or not the department should take the money, it was ultimately too late to accept the funds because the fiscal year was days away from ending.
The department had another $60 million available for use for the next fiscal year. Once again, Tillerson sat on the decision for months — five exactly. Last Monday, the department agreed to take $40 million.
$0. That is how much money the State Department has spent, out of $120 million available, to investigate and prevent election meddling. If the President wants to demonstrate that he is free from involvement with Russia, he should call for the money to be spent to prevent meddling
— Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) March 5, 2018
Tillerson went into his job as secretary of state with a plan to cut a third of the State Department’s budget and a disdainful attitude toward government in general.
The fact that the Trump administration has allowed this to continue is just more proof that they know perfectly well that Russian interference in American elections will probably work in their favor.
