Washington, DC – In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks led fellow Democratic Committee Members in requesting Mast urgently hold a hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Director of Foreign Assistance Peter Marocco. Committee Democrats expressed alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent actions, including freezing foreign assistance, retaliating against career public servants and dismantling the United States Agency for International Development. 

View full text of the letter here and below: 

Dear Chairman Mast,  

As fellow Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, we are deeply alarmed by the Trump Administration’s early actions as they relate to matters in this Committee’s jurisdiction.   

The Administration’s freeze on foreign assistance, the acts of retribution against career public servants at the State Department, and the complete and utter dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are particularly egregious. As you know, USAID is by statute an independent establishment outside of the State Department. Any proposal to modify that structure requires an Act of Congress.   

Given these developments, we request that you convene a hearing with Secretary Marco Rubio and Director of Foreign Assistance Peter Marocco, so that they may explain these chaotic – and in some instances unlawful – policy decisions directly to the Members of Congress and the American people who elected us to represent them here in Washington  It is imperative that this hearing happen before February 13th, when Congress will go into recess.    

We understand that we may not agree on every aspect of U.S. foreign policy, or even on the relative value of diplomacy and development for American interests. However, we can agree on the preservation of our Constitution, our Article I duties as a co-equal branch of government, and this Committee’s authorities and jurisdiction.  

We thank you for your attention to this important matter and look forward to working with you to schedule this important hearing this month.   

Sincerely