Senator Coons leads Democratic colleagues in resolution reaffirming USAID’s role in safeguarding U.S. national security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a resolution reaffirming that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is essential for advancing the national security interests of the United States in the wake of President Trump's efforts to halt U.S. foreign assistance operations and dismantle USAID. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and 40 other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Senator Coons went to the Senate floor Monday evening to introduce and ask for unanimous consent on the resolution; U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) objected. You can watch his full remarks here.

"President Donald Trump's unprecedented attacks on USAID and our entire foreign aid apparatus weaken our standing in the world, create power vacuums for our adversaries to fill, and put American lives in danger," said Senator Coons. "For less than one percent of the federal budget, USAID and foreign aid stop pandemics before they reach America, prevent terrorism, human trafficking and organized crime from finding footholds, and prevent Chinese and Russian disinformation from spreading. Congress created USAID as an independent agency and only Congress can reverse that. I'm glad to see so many of my colleagues standing with me to defend the separation of powers and our foreign aid programs."

"There will be suffering all over the world because of Trump and Musk's illegal steps to dismantle USAID," said Senator Schatz, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. "Right now, families are waiting for medicine and food that's already been paid for, including food produced by American farmers, and Musk just cut them off. The law is on our side, but in the meantime, the Trump administration is illegally fueling chaos that will lead to death across the world and make America less safe."

"For a small fraction of the overall U.S. budget, USAID promotes global health and stability, fights terrorism, and strengthens U.S. relationships abroad. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I want to be clear: The latest attempt by the Trump administration to freeze U.S.-funded foreign aid assistance and punish the men and women who are working at the agency is a gift to our adversaries that will make us less safe. No one is more delighted that the United States is retreating from its global leadership role than the Communist Party of China," said Senator Warner.

The resolution is a direct response to the efforts by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to eliminate USAID and pause the vast majority of U.S. foreign assistance programs, including reports that President Trump would sign an executive order folding the agency into the State Department- moves that are illegal without congressional approval. Senator Coons and his Senate Democratic colleagues are demanding clarity amid purges of USAID's top personnel, aid freezes, and chaos.

Accounting for less than one percent of the federal budget, our foreign assistance programs, many of which are led by USAID, play an indispensable role in promoting global stability and protecting our nation. Examples include the agency's vital humanitarian assistance work during global conflicts, efforts to combat infectious diseases before they spread to the United States, to counter terrorism recruitment worldwide and to reduce the number of children pulled into gangs supporting organized crime and human trafficking.

In addition to Senators Coons, Schatz, and Warner, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Lisa Blunt Rochester, (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray, (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

The full text of the resolution is available here.