Washington, DC - Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the State Department reorganization:

“The proposed changes to the State Department—and effectively USAID—we received this morning will be carefully weighed against the real costs to American security and leadership. As Russia and China open new embassies and recruit aggressively to increase their diplomatic presence, President Trump and Secretary Rubio are proposing significant cuts to an already strained and limited U.S. diplomatic corps. When America retreats – as it has under President Trump – China and Russia fill the void.

“We welcome reforms where needed, but they must be done with a scalpel, not a chainsaw. This proposal hands over Afghan allies who fought side-by-side with our military to the Taliban. It guts programs meant to protect brave democracy defenders living in fear. It haphazardly moves what is left of our once prominent foreign assistance programs to Department entities with no experience dealing with such programs and accounts. It proposes the firing of thousands of national security experts without cause. Taken together, these moves significantly undercut America’s role in the world and open the door for adversaries to threaten our safety and prosperity. And we cannot ignore that the gutting of foreign assistance earlier this year occurred without Congress, with utter disregard and in violation of federal law and the constitution.