Meeks Torches State Official: 'You Have Created The Largest Brain Drain' In Dept.'s Modern History

Forbes Breaking News

During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing last week, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) spoke about cuts to the State Department.

Transcript

00:00In that, I'm now going to recognize Ranking Member Meeks from New York for his opening statement.

00:07Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Deputy Secretary Regas, I appreciate you're here to explain the Secretary's reorganization plans.

00:17You know, this is a dark time for American diplomacy.

00:20President Trump continues to isolate the United States, alienate our allies, and create space for adversaries like Russia and China.

00:30To fill the void.

00:31We face serious global challenges from Russia's war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East to great power competition with China.

00:41America's diplomats and development experts are our first line of defense.

00:46If we are serious about leading globally, we need a capable, strategic, and fully staffed diplomatic corps.

00:56Instead, Mr. Secretary, you and Secretary Rubio are gutting the very institutions we rely on to confront these threats.

01:05Just days ago, you fired more than 1,300 State Department employees.

01:11Secretary Rubio claims it was to put America first.

01:15But the people you dismissed, career public servants, many with decades of experience,

01:21working hard just as our folks in the military, believing in America, one soft power, one hard defense.

01:30But all patriots of the United States who have all put America first each and every day.

01:39They've served in war zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, responded to genocide in Burma,

01:45and helping bring Americans home during the COVID crises.

01:49Let's be clear.

01:51You've created the largest brain drain in the State Department's modern history,

01:56occurring as China and others expand their global footprint while we shrink ours.

02:02And you're doing it without a plan, proper consultation, or transparency.

02:09When this committee asked for a rationale behind the state's 15% staffing cut,

02:16no one, no one could answer.

02:19Like so many of our oversight questions to your department, we're still waiting.

02:26Your budget officials fell back on talking points about how the State Department's budget

02:31has doubled since 2000.

02:34Ignoring inflation, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Department's expanded mission,

02:40including implementing programs like PEPFAR, which has saved over 25 million lives

02:46and helped slow the spread of HIV and AIDS worldwide, even here at home.

02:54Meanwhile, the Defense Department's budget has almost tripled in that same 25-year time frame.

03:01Both our soldiers are heroes, and our members of the State Department are heroes,

03:10working for America every day.

03:14Yes, State's budget has grown to meet new challenges, but staffing hasn't kept place.

03:21And if the Secretary really wants to shorten the clearance process,

03:24the Secretary can do that with a memo, not blind firings.

03:29Beyond the numbers, your disregard for congressional oversight is unacceptable.

03:35Since January, we've sent dozens of letters asking about plans to reorganize the State Department

03:41and unlawfully collapse USAID interstate, rolled back mandated programs,

03:48diversity efforts, and closed offices supporting our Afghan allies.

03:52Guess what we have received?

03:55Almost nothing.

03:56The law requires consultation for a reason.

04:01And if the Secretary can't even stay to answer questions at the one hearing this committee held with a state official,

04:08it's no surprise his staff follows suit.

04:12If you don't have answers to basic oversight questions,

04:15it would be wise to slow down and consider the consequences.

04:19The Secretary claimed this reorganization was a product of consultation with the workforce.

04:26That's false.

04:27Your colleague, Andrew Veperp, admitted it was designed by fewer than 10 people.

04:35The Secretary also claimed his firings wouldn't affect overseas posts.

04:41Also false.

04:43We've heard from diplomats who have already sent their families and belongings abroad only to receive termination notices.

04:51Other assigned to serve as critical posts like Baghdad were fired weeks before starting language training or deploying.

04:59You even fired officers traveling with the Secretary.

05:02People preparing his talking points for the very East Asia meetings he was tweeting about.

05:08That's not reform.

05:10That's chaos.

05:12You fired veterans serving at state without cause, without process, without dignity.

05:17One of those veterans said it best.

05:19The personnel aspect of this process, the personnel aspect of this process was as botched as it could have been,

05:35and it was completely avoidable, unquote.

05:39And you aren't just firing experts.

05:42You're gutting the programs they ran, programs that advanced America's interests and protected American lives.

05:47What exactly is America First really all about?

05:52And let's not forget the $2.9 billion of so-called America First Opportunities Fund,

05:59a slush fund Secretary Rubio has proposed to spend on President Trump's whims with zero congressional oversight.

06:08House Republicans love to demand transparency.

06:10Will they demand it now or rush to rubber stamp his latest power grab?

06:16So, Secretary Riggs, are you putting American diplomacy on a dangerous path?

06:21Step back from the brain.

06:23Restore the dignity of American diplomats and work with Congress on a smarter, strategic way forward,

06:29one that strengthens, not sabotages, our global leadership.

06:33And with that, you're back.

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