Democrats on the Home Overseas Affairs Committee are calling on Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.) to convene an pressing listening to with senior Trump administration officers, elevating considerations over probably unlawful efforts to shutter the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID).
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), joined by Democratic members of the committee, urged Mast to convene a listening to with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Peter Marocco, director of international help, throughout the subsequent two weeks, with lawmakers set to go on recess on Feb. 13.
The letter comes as Rubio, appointed appearing administrator of USAID, has despatched discover to Congress that U.S. international help doled out by USAID is underneath overview “with an eye towards potential reorganization.”
“As you know, USAID is by statute an independent establishment outside of the State Department. Any proposal to modify that structure requires an Act of Congress,” Meeks wrote within the letter.
The Hill reached out to Mast’s workplace for remark. Mast mentioned he helps ending USAID as a separate entity and would seemingly assist it being moved underneath the State Division.
However Democrats are fuming amid two weeks of chaos and uncertainty surrounding the operations of the company, which have successfully halted.
USAID workplaces have been closed Monday and workers have been informed to work remotely. Dozens of senior officers have been furloughed and lots of of contract workers laid off. Trump issued a 90-day freeze on almost all international help, and whereas the State Division issued waivers for some life-saving humanitarian assist, confusion over directions disrupted assist company operations.
