U.S. Senator Jim Risch - ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Jim Risch - ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Van Hollen, and Tim Kaine have expressed strong disapproval of the Trump Administration's recent decision to place top officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave. The senators released a joint statement highlighting their concerns over the impact this move could have on national security.
The statement emphasized that "by removing top leadership of the U.S. Agency for International Development, our national security interests will be severely undermined and our country less safe." They described USAID officials as "apolitical, non-partisan public servants" who are crucial in delivering aid and assistance programs aligned with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The senators warned that this action could signal a retreat from essential priorities and potentially embolden adversaries due to the resulting "chaos and confusion." They criticized the decision as "reckless and callous."
In their statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting merit-based civil service across federal agencies, including USAID and the State Department.
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