U.S. Will Give Egypt $150 Million For Transition, Says Clinton

By Rachel Whitt

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters Thursday that the U.S. will contribute $150 million dollars toward Egypt’s process of political transition.

“These funds will give us flexibility to respond to Egyptian needs moving forward,” Clinton said after a briefing with Senators on Capitol Hill.

Clinton said Under Secretary of State William Burns and Senior White House Economic Advisor David Lipton will travel to Egypt next week to “consult with Egyptian counterparts about how we can most effectively deploy our assistance.” 

“I certainly realize these are very tight budget times and we must justify every single penny we ask for,” Clinton said. “But…diplomats and development experts are working side by side with our military troops to secure the gains we’ve made. We cannot do the job with two of our three hands tied behind our back.”

Egypt’s military, which has taken control of the country following the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak, has been an annual beneficiary of American aid. Last year, it received roughly $1.3 billion from the U.S., a figure that remained constant in President Obama’s recent 2012 budget request.