WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), issued a statement following the committee’s meeting with Peter Marocco, Director of Foreign Assistance and Ken Jackson, Acting USAID Deputy for Management and Resources. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Democrats pressed the Trump administration representatives on their rationale for terminating critical foreign assistance programs, including to counter the PRC and stop drug trafficking as well as, lifesaving assistance programs—which Secretary Marco Rubio has stated would be preserved—including vaccinations and prevention and treatment programs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
“It’s disturbing that three months into the Trump administration’s chaotic approach to foreign assistance, we have yet to receive clear answers to the most basic questions,” said the Senators. “From the beginning, our committee has been ready to engage in good faith with the Trump Administration to review U.S. foreign assistance and ensure American tax dollars are being spent wisely. This process, however, has been nothing short of disastrous and Trump officials remain unable to answer even basic questions about which programs were cut, why they were cut and whether specific terminations imperil our national security.”
“We expect and demand more information about this ‘review,’” continued the Senators. “The sweeping terminations of U.S. foreign assistance have been done in violation of U.S. law. We expect Secretary Rubio to immediately appear before the Committee to provide answers on these actions and their implications for U.S. national security.”
This meeting comes after members of SFRC first met with Peter Marocco, then Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID, on March 6, 2025, to discuss the ongoing ‘review’ of U.S. foreign assistance. On March 14, 2025, SFRC Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on him to testify before the committee and consult with Congress on his proposed changes—as is required by law.
“For less than 1% of our annual budget, the U.S. builds partnerships around the globe that diminish the threat of terrorism, the spread of disease and build peace,” said Senator Shaheen. “I am still waiting to hear why this administration does not consider programs that have eradicated polio, cut malaria deaths in half and saved 25 million lives through HIV treatment to be ‘lifesaving.’ China alone will benefit from this decline in American global leadership.”
“Under Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Pete Marocco’s failed leadership, our own government destroyed many tools the U.S. has long relied on to push back against Chinese influence,” said Senator Coons. “They have terminated vital U.S. foreign assistance projects including in countries where the U.S. maintains military bases, dismantled entities like Radio Free Asia that provide news and a beacon of hope to nearly 60 million people in authoritarian nations every week, and cut critical vaccine and global health projects around the world. These actions wreck credibility with nations around the world and make Americans less safe. I left this conversation with Mr. Marocco and other senior Trump officials today with even more questions about their failing strategy and lack of fitness to protect American citizens.”
“It is incredibly disappointing that, once again, Pete Marocco failed to answer basic questions about why vital foreign assistance programs were terminated under his review,” said Senator Booker. “We need accountability from the State Department as to why it is repeatedly flouting the law, and answers as to why thousands of programs that help the United States compete with China, prevent terrorism, combat drug trafficking and human trafficking, and prevent the spread of infectious disease to our shores were terminated.”
“After months of withholding information from Congress about the unlawful dismantling of USAID and cuts to State Department programs, Peter Marocco was once again unprepared and unable to answer even the most basic questions about why the Trump administration terminated programs,” said Senator Schatz. "Consultation with Congress isn’t optional—it’s required by law—and this was not consultation. The way to make enduring, good-faith reforms to how we administer foreign aid and execute foreign policy is through the lawmaking process, not the lawbreaking process. There are still so many unanswered questions about the justifications and consequences of the cuts at the State Department and USAID, and I expect legally-required consultation with Congress, including with clear and substantive answers to the reasons for program terminations, as soon as possible.”
“One of the few tangible things that we learned from Peter Marocco this morning is that the Trump Administration’s failure to reimburse work that’s being completed means that the American government owes substantial interest under the Prompt Payment Act—perhaps tens of millions of dollars,” said Senator Duckworth. “While Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk are focused on undermining our national security by cruelly and chaotically cutting lifesaving USAID programs in the name of so-called efficiency, their incompetence has led to actual waste of millions of taxpayer dollars. It would be funny if it weren’t so devastating to millions of innocent people, American citizens, farmers and businesses that contribute to USAID’s mission and our national interest.”
“Pete Marocco is the architect behind Elon Musk’s dismantling of USAID and yet he could not give us any specifics about why certain critical programs were cut and how they decided which ones to cut,” said Senator Rosen. “The meeting today left us with more questions than answers, especially regarding his decision to illegally eliminate programs that provide vaccines to prevent worldwide disease outbreaks, and that support countering terrorism efforts in allied countries around the world.”
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