[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6169963,"mediaKeyId","5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79","parentId",5401632,"title","Lawmakers press State Department on Afghan allies, CARE office and Camp Asalia reports","audioSeconds",2979,"startMs",9042250,"endMs",12022000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79&start=9042&end=12022","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79/thumbnail_9042250.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169963/Lawmakers-press-State-Department-on-Afghan-allies-CARE-office-and-Camp-Asalia-reports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169963-4fc59aed33e0ec85921a1a0cf4bd0bd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522622&Signature=L0P47CEr7umhdmB0rYt9bS0wD-aoRFrhHgQx2RzM5neaFWth8wnqdYVtAWW8GKEv4fHoiidiPhvO8N6KgUwEYxtj8-Ct2hOe5SupsWTZ7nSC6nGCTSQrwe9WA1muSSu4VyoEwsT01uz0PZkY-wXxy5gdy16wY-WAXt9Bno~3RnMTZLRdFvTKSaL5ZQfgee7z9cU9fip5NbixGqiYcQyIqDrp6JqaYr~qHSYkS3DDUt87cnf-Lo99twc9fZVIy2XBLcRgk9hoFJ7buklYbiw-FPdoGC8WGgPzYRS1Vvro8N5x0~GwACICC3CLYFbcAuACJPTZcGfEOmLkbsRZ-GVpLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs","date","2025-07-16T10:20:14Z","article","Several members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee raised concerns about Afghan allies who worked with U.S. forces and about the department's handling of relocation and visa processing after personnel reductions.

Members recalled that Congress mandated a coordinator and a care office to assist Afghan relocations. Representative Kim and Representative Kamlager-Dove (Kamala?)—and others—asked who now carries that responsibility after the reorganization. Regas said the CARE office functions were moved into the South Central Asia desk and regional bureau responsibilities; he said processing of SIV applications continues under chief-of-mission authority and that roughly $500 million of prior-year funding would support the effort into FY26.

Committee members described cases in which Afghan applicants were in U.S. processing facilities or resettlement sites for extended periods and asked whether the administration planned to close a U.S. facility in Doha known in testimony as Camp Asalia. Members warned against returning people to Afghanistan and urged the department to maintain protections and work authorization for Afghans who assisted U.S. personnel. Regas said the processing work continues and that the department had admitted about 1,200 people under the program since the start of the administration but acknowledged the remaining caseload includes harder cases that have not yet cleared vetting.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed that a failure to protect and resettle Afghan partners would harm U.S. credibility and make future cooperation in crises harder. Several asked for written briefings and named contacts in the South Central Asia bureau to provide more detailed follow-up. Regas agreed to supply written information and said regional bureaus and ambassadors have been empowered to manage the relocations work under the reorganization.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FY26 State Department Posture: Management and Resources","oneSentenceSummary","Members from both parties asked Deputy Secretary Michael Regas about the fate of Afghan allies after the administration moved CARE office functions and laid off staff; members expressed concern about SIV processing, temporary protected status and reports of a Doha camp housing refugees.","taxTitle","Foreign Affairs: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1826,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6169967,"Committee presses State Department on USAID consolidation and Global Fragility Act implementation",6511,3172960,9684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79&start=3172&end=9684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79/thumbnail_3172960.jpg","/articles/6169967/Committee-presses-State-Department-on-USAID-consolidation-and-Global-Fragility-Act-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169967-ae8ee779cd5b51b85546d15e11736356/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522622&Signature=flHSk6FIC6C0ftXo-YrROJL-4BB5wjIyhmNVKKvcAoLEdTkywYxNWovWxwQ2BcrDe~RMGLAd-S29GTosfMk-zMq6x7Mi4RDYM0TbqdkqIgGa8qixvO5C9DYMZy2EhR6DWa7KL~4Z4iFIPCQC2lB1jv7toLpaw77Vv8b-GlnNgc84tc8Niv~eCO2nml74ulLH2OPENv9dBJvTS6Y2M0jPRBd9CnAE~wI7iP158S~n81sHvS9dxAVGucQPDzWUdM1FZMsCJYqcjuLQ~Rhu4RjoREZanTrj9BpBZA0F5h3dw6KTronO-MJJvhByvPrmZyvvkZt7E~CO~rxd~6BuTC~y2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Secretary Michael Regas told lawmakers the administration consolidated USAID foreign assistance implementation into the State Department as of July 1 and intends to make the department the lead agency for many assistance functions.

Regas said the change was intended to \"better align our foreign aid with our foreign policy objectives\" and that some offices, previously standalone, were merged into regional undersecretary portfolios such as the undersecretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment. He said some functions will be executed at the regional bureau level and by posts overseas rather than by a separate implementing agency.

Committee members pressed how the department will continue to deliver on statutory obligations. Representative Jackson and others sought a detailed plan for how the department will implement the Global Fragility Act (GFA), which funds conflict-prevention programming and requires coordination, monitoring and evaluation. Regas said the regional bureaus would assume responsibilities but committee members objected that roughly 20 staff who had been dedicated to GFA implementation were among the personnel affected and asked for a written plan showing where expertise will reside.

Regas said the department had begun hiring or rehiring staff — including locally employed personnel and some former USAID staff — but acknowledged that legal constraints around reductions in force and rehiring procedures could affect the timing and who could be rehired. He promised to provide the committee with clarification in writing about which bureau or official will carry statutory responsibilities tied to GFA and other congressionally mandated programs.

Members also questioned whether the department had moved experienced staff with institutional knowledge into the regional bureaus before separations took effect; Regas said the regional offices work closely with functional offices and that the aim was to \"empower our ambassadors and regional bureaus.\" Lawmakers asked for specific staffing plans and for assurances that statutory duties would be met.","Members asked how the department plans to carry out programs after USAID functions were moved into State, including who will implement the Global Fragility Act and whether regional bureaus will have capacity to absorb specialized offices and expertise.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6169972,"Chair questions State Department budget cuts, PEPFAR changes and expiring humanitarian supplies",8005,3014675,11020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79&start=3014&end=11020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79/thumbnail_3014675.jpg","/articles/6169972/Chair-questions-State-Department-budget-cuts-PEPFAR-changes-and-expiring-humanitarian-supplies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169972-190d04d2e59dec877d5b5ceaa3f0a1b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522622&Signature=UYNd04kgGdsjEG0OZ~mtnRnTg0djacilR8wDDO4INHFRMUCoJWKiGto47a-tNKX3rm1yjFWB~kWQoSn-lY5Uh8W0W0rH4s6p9g-Bk~yYV1pviPLlYndot0ojFgxmxALSMMQixjJCo4XTNZ2Tc8YyMnbhFkMGeGXyDQXo1rOaj9RNyIZ8-OZtxAYzYOQ4OyqsYs9yb38ntFdSXGbhUNtmBxiWHvFw6varFYf7vkcfX1hZzSdWGE~e-Jkql0X9b1tc3fM~pRC-SJnAYkrwe1wQlq8sg-Lagj-N~lSXxewJLIFY7hmB0Izf-uBrhRIgnUX~XAGL7PIBWpVLwzRQ6pTB5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Secretary Michael Regas told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the administration's fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of State is $28.5 billion, a reduction the witness described as aligning foreign assistance to \"core interests of the American people.\" He said the proposed total is \"a decrease of $25,900,000,000 or 48% below the FY25 appropriations.\"

Regas and other witnesses framed reform of foreign assistance as a shift toward the secretary's stated \"America First\" priorities. Regas said the administration proposes a new \"America First Opportunity Fund\" to centralize discretionary foreign assistance at the State Department, with the secretary exercising control and public accountability over disbursements.

Committee members from both parties pressed Regas on the consequences of reductions. Ranking Member Meeks and others argued that the planned cutbacks risk hollowing out diplomatic capacity and public-health programs. Regas said life‑saving humanitarian assistance (for example, emergency food and medical aid) was exempted from the administration's broader foreign assistance review, but he acknowledged other programmatic and administrative reductions.

Members repeatedly raised the fate of specific programs and supplies. Representatives cited PEPFAR — the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — and asked about transition planning for partner-country ownership. Regas said the administration proposes funding adjustments for PEPFAR tied to \"graduation\" where countries can assume program costs; he described an example that about 85% of direct-care PEPFAR funds were included in the request, while administrative nondirect-care funds would see larger reductions.

Several members pressed Regas about reports that hundreds of metric tons of emergency food and therapeutic nutrition products — including ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) — were sitting in warehouses and at risk of expiring. Representative McGovern, among others, said food purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars was set to be incinerated and asked what plan the department had to move stock to people in need. Regas said he would investigate and repeated the government's policy not to distribute expired food or medicine.

Questions also touched on Gaza: members asked about a $30 million grant to a newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and whether required counterterrorism and anti‑fraud reviews had been waived to accelerate that award. Regas said he was not familiar with the specific grant and would look into it.

Lawmakers sought clarity on oversight controls for the proposed America First Opportunity Fund and requested written descriptions of the fund's guardrails, inspectors-general authority and congressional reporting. Regas pointed to public accountability and inspector-general oversight, and promised additional briefings and documents for the committee.

The hearing showed a sharp divide over the scope of foreign assistance: advocates and many former officials argued that development and health programs provide strategic returns and protect U.S. interests, while the administration and some members emphasized tighter linking of aid to direct U.S. national-interest outcomes.","Deputy Secretary Michael Regas defended the administration's FY2026 State Department request and restructuring of foreign assistance; lawmakers pressed him on cuts to programs including PEPFAR, plans for the \"America First Opportunity Fund,\" and reports of emergency food and therapeutic supplies expiring in warehouses.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6169977,"House committee questions State Department reorganization after 1,300 layoffs",0,2222761,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79&start=2222&end=2222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5401632-c34ade296487688942a4ce1c50b77c79/thumbnail_2222761.jpg","/articles/6169977/House-committee-questions-State-Department-reorganization-after-1300-layoffs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169977-cc99ed0eb7ddf15b1c27e519a3edb1d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770522622&Signature=khAe2H4IE73PXWpgavVn4i2Kq4SlqGx69cvE4DLBQZ1H-bwQwBna6HMQjJJjC8nO95~ZHMC1N~J~Xr5lXm7mJ4M0lcde9OZeon2UwQc6V6-zyIGDdzRDt1vWnbLb9Rdi-OhNBYz3VuHyYleFEJwU3g2HLIRy6XD8kbcKjHqZyrPdU4GJFhPx4cNLiDEB473yEp3HduqWX0J-S8nmF0sWqE1m40UIaH6bw9N84bPBEb6T1IYu~yMjymGXR6J33mXoBG7ubK9MpiTmJoTaRPOUDO5OP2cnJsD7bqchUdUIGQVqx2UGedZuIGwocIR34iQC0mWIy7g-qzP2jOIS~1y42g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Foreign Affairs Committee spent several hours on May 29 questioning the State Department's reorganization and a reduction-in-force that department leaders say affected roughly 1,300 positions.

Chairman Mast opened the hearing by saying the session's purpose was \"to examine the progress made regarding the reorganization of the Department of State and the role that the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources is in ensuring effective management of resources and operations within the department.\" The deputy secretary, Michael Regas, testified for the administration.

The committee heard a steady stream of concern from Democrats and some Republicans about how the personnel actions were carried out and the consequences for institutional knowledge. Ranking Member Gregory Meeks said the firings created \"the largest brain drain in the State Department's modern history\" and pressed Regas for documentation of the strategic analysis behind the cuts. Lawmakers repeatedly asked for written analyses, distribution lists, and the workforce comments the department collected.

Regas described the goal as aligning the department with the administration's foreign policy priorities and said the reorganization aimed to consolidate or eliminate roughly 45% of domestic offices and implement a 15% workforce reduction based on a departmental assessment. He said the department used Office of Personnel Management procedures, competitive areas and merit-based scoring to determine which positions were retained.

Members challenged the department's timing and implementation. Several members said employees who had recently taken new assignments or had been overseas received termination notices referencing prior assignments as of the May 29 effective date of the reorganization. Representative Castro asked whether the department would allow those employees to remain in their new positions if the law permits; Regas replied he would consult legal counsel and act in accordance with statutory requirements.

Lawmakers also asked who developed the reorganization plan. Regas said undersecretaries and senior bureau officials—most career officers—participated in the assessment; he disputed claims the plan was written by \"fewer than 10 people,\" saying senior leaders across the department provided input.

The exchange underscored bipartisan concerns about process and oversight: members asked for the written national-security rationales, cost-benefit analyses and the records of workforce input that the department used to justify the staffing reductions. Regas said he would provide documents that could be shared with the committee and repeated that the intent was to \"empower our ambassadors and diplomats in the field\" and to concentrate management functions in the management bureau.

The hearing ended with Regas offering to continue briefings and to provide documents requested by the committee; members signaled they would submit follow-up questions in writing.","Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee pressed Deputy Secretary Michael Regas on the administration's reorganization of the State Department, including a reported 15% workforce reduction, consolidation of domestic offices and the process used to select employees for termination.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers press State Department on Afghan allies, CARE office and Camp Asalia reports

Committee presses State Department on USAID consolidation and Global Fragility Act implementation

Chair questions State Department budget cuts, PEPFAR changes and expiring humanitarian supplies

House committee questions State Department reorganization after 1,300 layoffs