Senator Schatz has placed a hold on all State Department nominees in protest of the Trump administration's proposed cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Schatz argues that dismantling USAID is illegal and harmful to national security. He vows to continue his hold until the administration reverses its actions and restores USAID's functionality.
A “hold” is essentially a threat to prevent a speedy vote for a nominee in the full SenateSchatz, who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, said his move is in protest of Trump’s billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, declaring that he and the president “Dismantling USAID is illegal and makes us less safe. USAID was created by federal law and is funded by Congress. Donald Trump and Elon Musk can’t just wish it away with a stroke of a pen — they need to pass a law,” Schatz said in a statement.
“We will use every power that we have at our disposal in the US Senate. My colleagues will do the same thing in the House. This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. “Let’s not pull any punches about why this is happening. Elon Musk makes billions of dollars off of his business with China. And China is cheering at this action today.
In 2023, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., placed a hold on over 400 military promotions for 10 months in protest of the Department of Defense’s abortion travel policy.
USAID State Department Nominations Hold Trump Administration
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