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Senators press nominees over USAID program freeze, layoffs and unpaid contractors
Summary
Senators from both parties pressed State Department nominees about a 90‑day freeze on foreign assistance, widespread USAID workforce disruptions and reports that waivers for lifesaving programs have not been effectuated, raising legal and humanitarian concerns.
During the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, lawmakers repeatedly raised alarm about a pause on foreign assistance and the operational impact on the U.S. foreign assistance architecture. Senators described widespread layoffs at USAID, suspended contracts and humanitarian programs that remained inactive despite public statements that some lifesaving activities were waived.
Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen warned that “these programs have gone dark. For some, their fate remains unclear. It has left our country vulnerable.” She and other senators recounted reports that life‑saving programs and disaster responses were paused or had stopped despite public claims of waivers.
Senator Maggie Hassan and others pressed nominees to ensure waivers that Secretary Rubio provided for “all life saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance” were actually delivering funds and services in…
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