Funding would restore programs suspended during last year’s budget cuts
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration notified Congress late last week that it intends to spend $175.8 million to replace outdated and aging undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America, according to a notification obtained by the Associated Press on Monday.
The undersea cable funding is part of a broader restoration of programs that could total several hundred million dollars more. The administration had halted many such initiatives last year during a flurry of budget and personnel cuts.
The administration has expressed deep concern about China’s activities in the Americas, pushing back on Chinese ownership of ports at either end of the Panama Canal, infrastructure projects funded by China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the region, and Chinese investment in the telecommunications sector.
A State Department official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said China’s economic activities in the Western Hemisphere pose risks to U.S. national security and prosperity. The official said China’s offerings may seem cheaper but in the end wind up being more expensive due to cost overruns, hidden maintenance fees and poor performance.
The push to increase funding is proceeding even as Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping maintain a show of cooperation and Xi prepares to visit the U.S. this fall.