WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, submitted opening remarks for the record at the hearing on the nominations of Thomas DiNanno to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Sarah Rogers to be Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Allison Hooker to be Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. In her opening remarks, Ranking Member Shaheen raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s tariffs and warned they amount to a trade war that damages U.S. alliances while failing to target adversaries like China and Russia.
“As a practical matter, the Administration’s recent tariffs amount to a declaration of a trade war,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “It would be one thing if they were focused on our adversaries like China and Russia, but the recent tariffs are undermining our closest alliances.”
Ranking Member Shaheen also pressed Mr. DiNanno and Ms. Rogers on upholding nuclear arms control and countering foreign disinformation amid cuts to U.S. public diplomacy efforts.
“Mr. DiNanno, given President Trump’s interest in restarting nuclear arms control talks with Russia, how can we be sure that Putin would uphold Russia’s obligations, either under New START or another nuclear arms control agreement?” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “While nuclear arms control is critical, we must also consider the broader challenge of foreign influence. From Chinese control of TikTok to Kremlin talking points on RT, foreign disinformation has real-world consequences.”
The Ranking Member’s opening remarks are below.
Thank you, Chairman Risch and welcome to the nominees and your families who are here today. As a practical matter, the Administration’s recent tariffs amount to a declaration of a trade war. It would be one thing if they were focused on our adversaries like China and Russia, but the recent tariffs are undermining our closest alliances.
Ms. Hooker, you have been nominated to the post of Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, which is charged with helping carry out U.S. foreign policy around the world. You have worked for both Democratic and Republican administrations, starting out as a career employee at the State Department. You have called American alliances a source of strength in deterring aggression from China. You have expressed support for Radio Free Asia, saying it “plays a leading role in pushing back on authoritarian propaganda.” And you have supported sanctions against Russia over Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
I agree with you on these points. But you have been nominated on behalf of an administration that does not. So, if confirmed, I hope you will not just blindly carry out the Trump Administration’s policies but ask what is truly in our national interest and draw upon your experience when advising Secretary Rubio and other senior officials in the Administration.
Mr. DiNanno, you also bring years of experience with you. The danger posed by the potential use of nuclear weapons is one of the most serious national security challenges facing the United States. That’s why I supported the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, a treaty that successfully reduced the number of nuclear warheads aimed at the United States. As President Trump said earlier this year—
“There’s no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many. You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they’re building nuclear weapons.” I agree. If this treaty expires next year, it will give Russia that much more freedom to expand its nuclear arsenal. Mr. DiNanno, given President Trump’s interest in restarting nuclear arms control talks with Russia, how can we be sure that Putin would uphold Russia’s obligations, either under New START or another nuclear arms control agreement? While nuclear arms control is critical, we must also consider the broader challenge of foreign influence. From Chinese control of TikTok to Kremlin talking points on RT, foreign disinformation has real-world consequences. China traps developing countries with debt from infrastructure projects as it sells itself as the champion of the Global South. Russian forces commit war crimes and abduct Ukrainian children as it claims Russia is liberating Ukraine. And it’s not just other countries. AI is making information warfare easier for non-state actors like terrorist groups and drug cartels as well. That means American public diplomacy and programs to counter disinformation are more relevant than ever.
Ms. Rogers, you are nominated to serve as the senior-most official at the State Department for public diplomacy at a challenging time. While China and Russia are spending billions of dollars on disinformation, the United States is closing the Global Engagement Center at the State Department and shutting down Voice of America. So, Ms. Rogers, I hope you will lay out your plans for how the U.S. will counter foreign propaganda and how we can avoid falling behind in the war on disinformation.
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