Washington, DC – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee, today sent a letter requesting the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of the financial costs and strategic consequences of the Trump administration’s unlawful effort to subsume USAID into the State Department, and terminate thousands of State and USAID contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. This review is critical for Congress to understand the costs of the Trump administration’s reckless termination of foreign assistance to the American taxpayer and to understand how these actions, which were taken without Congressional approval, may impact U.S. interests.

Full text of the letter is below. A PDF is available here.

Dear Mr. Dodaro,

We are gravely concerned that the Trump Administration’s illegal dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cancellation and termination of thousands of State and USAID contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements since January 20, 2025, has come at great direct and strategic cost to the U.S. Government (USG) in terms of U.S. global influence, money, and ability to conduct oversight of U.S. taxpayer-funded programs.

It is vital for Congress to understand the full cost of these actions, including whether any savings have been realized or are expected in the future. The Trump Administration has indicated it will imminently transfer some USAID authorities and programs to the State Department; however, it is not clear that the State Department will have the capacity – including staff with the necessary skills and expertise – to execute these authorities and oversee these programs. As such, we request that GAO examine:
 

1. The cost to the USG of canceling or terminating existing contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements at USAID and the State Department, both for overall department/agency operations and those associated with foreign aid programs, or litigation of the cancelations or terminations. What are the associated cost savings, both estimated and realized?
2. The extent to which the State Department retains the capacity (including the proper workforce) to oversee the contracts, grants, or agreements for remaining foreign aid programs. To what extent is State taking steps to ensure adequate staff, with the appropriate skills and expertise, are available to perform monitoring and evaluation of the remaining foreign aid programs?
3. The firing and hiring authorities and personnel process(es) the USG has used or will use to terminate USAID employees and what authorities and personnel process(es) are available to be used if USAID employees are rehired to perform similar functions at the State Department. What are the costs associated with terminating all USAID employees and possibly rehiring some of them at the State Department?
4. The scope and nature of the impact of canceling foreign aid programs on U.S. foreign policy. To what extent and how does canceling these programs affect the USG’s influence and soft power around the world?

The Committee would also like to understand the likely implications for the State Department’s facilities and operations from the termination of USAID employees and/or the cancelation of foreign assistance programs, including how the State Department is dealing with excess goods and materials and excess facilities around the world as a result of these terminations and cancelations. In particular, we would also like to know how the State Department plans to determine its staffing needs and strategically align its facilities to support new staffing patterns.

Given these interests, we request GAO address the following questions:

1. What is the process for dealing with excess property (goods and materials) as a result of canceled foreign aid programs? What costs are associated with moving, managing, or disposal of excess property? To what extent are goods and materials being sold, reused, or otherwise disposed of? What are estimated cost savings, if any? How much funding will this return to the U.S. Treasury?
2. How much office space will USAID vacate because of staffing reductions or program cancelations? What are the State Department’s plans to reuse or dispose of this space? What are the costs and estimated cost savings of these efforts?
3. How many overseas housing unit leases will the State Department terminate as a result of USAID or other staff reductions? How many will the State Department take over? What are the costs and potential cost savings associated with these terminations or assumption of leases?
4. What are the State Department’s plans for reusing, repurposing, or disposing of vacant or underutilized space at embassies and consulates that are to be downsized or closed as a result of the closure of USAID? What are the costs and estimated cost savings of these efforts?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.