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DHS' Kelly defends Trump budget, warns of more Manchester-type attacks

By Doug G. Ware
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly speaks Thursday during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
1 of 3 | Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly speaks Thursday during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

May 25 (UPI) -- In a defense of President Donald Trump's 2018 budget proposal, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers Thursday that a lot of funding is needed to guard against attacks like the one in Britain this week.

Kelly made the remarks in testimony before a Senate subcommittee Thursday.

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"As horrible as Manchester was, my expectation is we are going to see a lot more of that type of attack," he said. "We are watching a number of very sophisticated, advanced threats."

Kelly was the latest member of the Trump administration to testify about the budget before the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Budget director Mick Mulvaney, Betsy DeVos (education), Sonny Perdue (agriculture) and Steve Mnuchin (treasury) appeared Wednesday.

Trump's budget proposal aims to entirely cut out 66 federal programs worth nearly $27 million, starting with 2018. The cuts would impact the departments of health, education, commerce, justice and state.

Trump's plan, however, imposes lesser cuts to homeland security -- and actually increases defense spending.

"The President's Budget puts America first," Kelly added in his testimony.

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"DHS is committed to the rule of law. Our men and women take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States and uphold the laws of this great country against all enemies -- foreign and domestic -- and we get it done."

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