America Is Giving Up Diplomatic Tools That Help Keep It Safe

As your constituent, I am concerned that the United States is dismantling diplomatic capabilities that took generations to build. Government can be reformed without destroying national capabilities developed over decades or weakening Congress’s constitutional and statutory authority. AMERICA CANNOT REBUILD DECADES OF EXPERIENCE OVERNIGHT In July 2025, the State Department began eliminating 1,107 Civil Service and 246 Foreign Service positions. The broader reorganization was expected to produce nearly 3,000 departures. For decades, Congress and taxpayers invested in language skills, regional expertise and diplomatic relationships that cannot quickly be replaced. WHAT IS AT STAKE Diplomacy is one of America’s first lines of defense. Experienced diplomats help prevent conflicts, manage crises, protect Americans overseas, preserve alliances, keep markets open and counter adversaries. When America withdraws diplomatic capacity, competitors can fill the vacuum. Lost expertise and relationships may take years or decades to rebuild. CONGRESS’S POWER IS ALSO AT STAKE The administration dismantled USAID and transferred its remaining foreign-assistance functions to State, although Congress had codified USAID in federal law and funded its programs. GAO examined proposals to cancel billions in foreign-assistance funding and reported difficulty obtaining information needed to determine whether some congressionally approved money was being withheld. Major negotiations have also increasingly involved presidential representatives outside the traditional diplomatic structure. Presidents have broad foreign-affairs authority, but Congress retains independent powers over appropriations, legislation and oversight. I ask Congress to take these specific actions: (1) INVESTIGATE THE DISMANTLING. Hold public hearings and require State, USAID and OMB to identify eliminated or transferred offices, programs and capabilities, the legal authority relied upon, and the national-security consequences. (2) PROTECT CONGRESS’S POWER. Bar the executive branch from eliminating congressionally established foreign-affairs functions or withholding or redirecting appropriated money except as authorized by law. (3) REQUIRE INDEPENDENT REVIEW. Direct GAO and inspectors general to investigate compliance with appropriations, impoundment, notification and records-preservation laws and publicly report their findings. (4) PRESERVE DIPLOMATIC EXPERTISE. Require State to identify and protect critical language, regional and technical capabilities before further major personnel reductions. (5) MAKE DIPLOMACY ACCOUNTABLE. Require conflict disclosures, government records and congressional reporting for presidential representatives conducting major diplomatic negotiations. These safeguards should apply regardless of which party controls the White House. Congress should act to preserve its authority and America’s diplomatic capacity before more of both is lost. Thank you.