Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Accuses Trump Of 'Politically-Motivated Purges' Of Federal Agencies

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During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) spoke about layoffs at federal agencies.

Transcript

00:00From Florida, Congresswoman Sheila Scherferliss-McCormick for five minutes for her opening statement.

00:05Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening today's hearing on the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism.

00:10I want to thank Acting Coordinator Lee Grofow for being here today and for your many years of public service.

00:18For decades, the State Department's CT Bureau has worked hand-in-hand with our allies and partners

00:23to disrupt terrorist networks, prevent radicalization, and support the capacity of governments around the world to do the same.

00:32It is through this vital work that we have built the international coalition expertise and tools

00:38that help keep Americans safe around the world.

00:41Yet this administration has chosen to gut it all.

00:45On July 11th, the Trump administration issued RIFS orders to over 1,300 State Department employees.

00:52This included numerous CT experts across the department.

00:56Among those fired was the entire team working on the Counterviolent Extremists, or CVE.

01:04This office worked on prevented radicalization before it took hold.

01:09Today's global terrorist threats remain significant, and we need the best people working on the mitigation and prevention work.

01:17This administration also gutted the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, known as PRM.

01:25For decades, PRM has supported refugee and provided humanitarian assistance around the world,

01:32helping to alleviate conflict, displacement, and poverty that terrorist groups exploit.

01:38The administration didn't stop there.

01:39It also gutted the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor,

01:42and the vast majority of the department's programs aimed at protecting the rights of individuals who are marginalized

01:49and may feel they have no other choice than to turn to extremism to redress their grievances.

01:57Then there's the dismantling of USAID,

02:01an agency that for decades worked in some of the world's most volatile regions

02:05to provide life-saving assistance and build livelihoods.

02:09This administration's promise of life-saving assistance would continue.

02:14Just weeks later, the Atlantic reported that the administration ordered over 500 metric tons

02:20of emergency food to be incinerated, rather than delivering it to the starving populations who need it.

02:27How do we think that headline plays with the terrorist groups seeking to recruit the most vulnerable?

02:33Compare that to from the American people.

02:36The administration's inability to grasp, let alone appropriate response to counterterrorism,

02:41needs is also apparent in the FY26 budget request.

02:47For example, the budget request makes no mention of Yemen anywhere,

02:51despite the significant threats posed by Houthi rebels.

02:55In fact, the Trump administration cuts funds to Yemen, including food assistance.

02:59When over 17 million people in Yemen are food insecure.

03:05As they cut programs and offices working to address the root causes of extremes,

03:10it is clear that this administration lacks the foresight, focus, and common sense necessary

03:14to combat terrorism effectively.

03:17I am far less concerned about how your organization chart looks

03:21than about your workforce being ready, staffed, and trained

03:24to complete its mission with experts.

03:28We have to remember what is at stake here.

03:30This is about our national security and protecting American interests

03:34and the American people from terrorists and violent extremists.

03:38We must address these threats with clear eyes and effective policy.

03:42Effective CT workers cannot succeed with political-motivated purges,

03:47baseless budgets, and foreign assistance cuts,

03:50and an empty toolbox.

03:54Mr. Logofo, I look forward to your testimony

03:56and to your understanding on how these conditions will better the Bureau

04:01and help it get to its mission.

04:02Thank you so much for being here.

04:04I yield back.

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