Trump budget replaces Institute for Peace with military spending

The Trump administration will reportedly axe the Institute for Peace (USIP) and dozens of other governmental agencies in order to pay for a massive rise in its military spending.

The USIP was set up to explore the "nonviolent prevention and mitigation of deadly conflict abroad", but will be axed at a saving of $35.3 million per year.

Created by Congress in 1984 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, its mission is to help conflict resolution around the world.

The agency has not been officially closed and it is not certain if the scheduled cuts will be made exactly as laid out in the budget.

The budget makes a heavy focus on cuts to foreign aid, whilst also emphasising a heavy military build-up.

Trump's previous military advisor, Michael Flynn, said in January that the Trump administration would adopt a foreign policy of achieving "peace through strength."

Trump's budget makes swinging cuts across the breadth of government in order to allow for a nine percent increase in defence spending and a seven percent boost to homeland security.

Funding was also cut from dozens of agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and State Department, at 31 percent and 29 percent respectively - in order to allow for a down-payment on the wall project between the US and Mexico.