Legislation Would Require Director of Foreign Assistance to be Confirmed by the Senate
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and 17 of their Senate colleagues to introduce the Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act. The bill would expand congressional oversight of foreign assistance decision-making and require the Senate to confirm the U.S. State Department’s Director of Foreign Assistance. The Director of Foreign Assistance currently does not require congressional approval, and the Trump Administration has refused to publicly identify the individual occupying the position at present.
“USAID saves lives and is critical to U.S. national security,” said Bennet. “As the Trump Administration threatens this crucial agency, our bill will reaffirm USAID’s independence and ensure the delivery of U.S. foreign assistance worldwide.”
“Foreign assistance is not a handout. It is a critical part of our national security strategy and a key tool to keep Americans safe from disease, narcotics and instability. China has rapidly expanded its foreign assistance over the past decade, and would like nothing more than for the United States to retreat on the global stage. The Trump Administration’s recent attempts to destroy USAID and U.S. foreign assistance programs emboldens China, Russia, and Iran, makes Americans less safe, puts thousands of Americans out of work, and is already causing immense human suffering for millions of people around the world,” said Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this bill to force congressional oversight of this lawless and damaging behavior.”
The bill would also require the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to use all foreign assistance funding as directed within 90 days of its appropriation by Congress.
Last week, Bennet and Kaine, alongside 36 of their Senate colleagues, demanded answers from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s attempt to dismantle USAID.
In addition to Bennet and Kaine, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass,), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) cosponsored the bill.
The text of the bill is available HERE.