Clinton worried by talk of cutting US foreign aid

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is distressed by calls from some Republicans to reduce foreign aid.

In a speech Friday at the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Clinton said that aid officials must reduce reliance on contractors and better coordinate their work to keep congressional support for foreign aid programs.

The Obama administration has requested $36.4 billion in foreign assistance in fiscal 2011.

Clinton this week released the results of an internal study that includes a plan to improve the development programs that are key to U.S. foreign policy.

Some congressional Republicans have indicated they will push for
cuts in diplomatic and foreign aid budgets when they take control of the House next year.