Can the State Department successfully appeal US funding cuts for war crimes work?

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The State Department Faces Strict Criteria for Appealing US Funding Cuts to War Crimes Programs

The State Department has the opportunity to appeal the White House's recommendation to terminate funding for nearly two dozen global war crimes and accountability programs, but the process is governed by stringent criteria. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made these recommendations on Wednesday, and while not final, they necessitate a strong justification for any program's continuation, requiring clear alignment with current administration priorities. The likelihood of successfully appealing many of these proposed cuts is considered slim by US officials, though the Secretary of State may advocate for crucial initiatives.
Strict Criteria for Program Justification

State Department bureaus must submit their arguments for preserving war crimes and accountability programs by July 11. The internal guidelines emphasize that appeals must clearly and succinctly demonstrate direct alignment with the administration's priorities. This strict framework suggests that programs will only be retained if they can be demonstrably linked to the core objectives of the current administration, making it challenging to retain initiatives that may have been supported under previous administrations or that operate on a more extended, less immediately aligned timeline.
Potential for Key Program Retention

Despite the general slim prospects for successful appeals, the Secretary of State retains the ability to make a case for retaining particularly critical programs. This includes initiatives that directly support potential war crimes prosecutions, such as those focused on collecting evidence of atrocities in Ukraine. For instance, an $18 million grant for Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, implemented by Georgetown University’s International Criminal Justice Initiative, is among the programs recommended for termination, highlighting the potential impact on significant ongoing efforts.
Broad Scope of Proposed Terminations

The OMB's recommendations encompass a wide range of geographical areas and accountability efforts. Programs slated for potential termination include work in Myanmar, focusing on the atrocities committed by the army against Rohingya minorities, and efforts addressing the persecution of minorities by Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad. Additionally, accountability work in Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Belarus, Sudan, South Sudan, and Afghanistan is also affected, indicating a broad shift in funding priorities away from these specific international justice initiatives.
Shifting Administration Priorities

These proposed funding cuts signal a potential de-prioritisation of global human rights advocacy and the rule of law by the current administration. While some programs have been supported across multiple administrations for decades, the OMB's recommendations suggest a move towards aligning foreign aid with specific, current policy objectives. This shift could significantly impact international efforts to document battlefield atrocities and hold perpetrators accountable, particularly in ongoing conflicts like the one in Ukraine, where tens of thousands of war crime cases have been opened since February 2022.

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Can the State Department successfully appeal US funding cuts for war crimes work?

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