Senator Schatz, Ranking Member Shaheen Demand Answers from Secretary Rubio on USAID and State Department Program Terminations

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding decisions this week to fire or place on leave virtually all USAID staff, and to terminate more than 90 percent of USAID awards and more than 60 percent of State Department awards. The Senators also requested that Secretary Rubio appear for hearings on Congress on these actions and their implications for U.S. national security. 

“We are writing with grave concern regarding your decisions this week to fire or place on leave virtually all USAID staff, and to terminate more than 90 percent of USAID awards and more than 60 percent of State Department awards, including hundreds of millions of dollars for programs you exempted as critical to our interest or lifesaving,” wrote the senators. “These actions are in contravention of the law, costly, inefficient, and will harm U.S. national security.” 

“The lack of compliance with the law, and the lack of communication and transparency, is unprecedented and not representative of the collaboration you professed, and we expected, when we confirmed you as Secretary of State,” continued the senators.  

“As a former member of both Committees, you are keenly aware that Congress’ Constitutional oversight and appropriations mandates require regular engagement with Executive Branch Departments and Agencies about activities and expenditures,” concluded the senators. “We ask that you provide responses to our time-sensitive correspondence and set expectations with State Department and USAID staff about timely and regular engagement with Congress in response to the inquiries from our committees. Lastly, we request that you appear for hearings before our Committees on these actions and their implications for U.S. national security.” 

Full text of the letter can be found here.