Washington, D.C. – Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Ranking Member of the House National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the State Department notified Congress of a sweeping reorganization plan that will significantly undermine U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance, with serious implications for American security and economic interests.

“Reforms must be undertaken thoughtfully with bipartisan guidance and consent from Congress to be effective and sustainable. We take seriously our obligation to ensure that every dollar spent strengthens our global leadership and advances the safety and prosperity of our citizens, and have offered our engagement with the Administration, but there has been no consultation,” said the Members.

“At a time when adversaries like Russia and China are expanding their global influence, the Administration is proposing reductions to an already overstretched U.S. diplomatic corps while formalizing its elimination of virtually all U.S. development expertise. This includes shifting critical development and humanitarian programs to entities with little or no experience managing them; jeopardizing efforts to protect human rights and democracy, prevent conflict before it reaches our shores, and advance the Administration’s own stated goals. Meaningful reform is more than an organizational chart, and it also requires a commitment to the personnel, systems, and tools necessary for effective policy implementation.

This proposal, and the ongoing cuts to foreign assistance programs gutted earlier this year with the dismantling of USAID and the abrupt cancellation of thousands of contracts and grants, will continue to result in preventable death around the world. All of this has raised not only policy concerns, but serious legal and constitutional issues. 

Secretary Rubio and his team must engage with Congress openly and in good faith, participating in a comprehensive, bipartisan exchange of ideas that lead to an agreed path forward.”

###