Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Restore peace to budget

President Trump’s budget proposal released March 16 calls for reduction or elimination of the budgets of many crucial government agencies. One agency slated for funding elimination is the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). At the same time, he proposes to increase the current defense budget of $584 billion by $52.3 billion.

According to the USIP website, “USIP works to prevent and resolve armed conflict around the world… by engaging directly in conflict zones and by providing analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace.”

The USIP’s current budget of $37.8 million is only .00647 percent of the current defense budget of $584 billion. Isn’t the opportunity for peace without conflict worth this small percentage of the defense budget? Why would we eliminate the only agency whose sole goal is the resolution we all want?

Nancy Freitag

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
letters@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-5098
Phone
(509) 459-5403

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy