Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Stop DOGE from Dismantling the State Department, Reclaim Congress’ Constitutional Authority

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Greg Meeks (NY-5), and 21 additional lawmakers introduced the Defending American Diplomacy Act to protect the State Department from DOGE cuts. This bill would prevent the Trump Administration from making any significant changes to the State Department without first consulting and obtaining approval from Congress. If the administration circumvents Congress to reorganize the State Department, as it did with USAID, the legislation will cut off federal funding for DOGE and prohibit travel for political appointees.

"Rogue actors empowered by Elon Musk, including January 6 rioter Peter Marocco and a 19-year-old nicknamed 'Big Balls,' are taking a sledgehammer to vital tools in our foreign policy toolbox that prevent us from going to war. They've already illegally dismantled eight foreign policy institutions and are coming for the State Department next," said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. "I introduced the Defending American Diplomacy Act because I refuse to be complicit in Republicans' abandonment of their oversight duties as Trump erodes Americans' protections from terrorism, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters. The constitution is clear: Congress holds the power of the purse-not the president, not Elon Musk, and certainly not dodgy DOGE."

Reporting suggests the administration is looking to decrease the State Department's operations budget by a whopping 20%. Preliminary plans include shuttering diplomatic missions, firing many of the local employees who enable U.S. embassies to function, and eliminating bureaus tasked with advancing democracy, protecting human rights, supporting scientific research, and fostering goodwill abroad.

To preempt any significant reorganization of the State Department without congressional consultation and approval, the Defending American Diplomacy Act:

• Requires any major reorganization of the State Department to be passed into law by an act of Congress;
• Requires the Secretary of State to submit a detailed plan about the administration's intended reorganization and an assessment of any impacts to the U.S. diplomatic toolbox; and
• Cuts funding for DOGE and prohibits travel for Trump political appointees if the administration initiates a reorganization that circumvents Congress.

The Defending American Diplomacy Act is cosponsored by Reps. Gregory W. Meeks, Kweisi Mfume, Troy Carter, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Jill Tokuda, Steve Cohen, Dina Titus, Johnny Olszewski, Sara Jacobs, Joaquin Castro, Emmanuel Cleaver, Gerry Connolly, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Bill Keating, Paul D. Tonko, Rashida Tlaib, Ro Khanna, Jim McGovern, Nydia M. Velázquez, Shri Thanedar, and Jonathan Jackson.

To learn more about the Defending American Diplomacy Act, click here for bill text and here for a one-pager. Rep. Kamlager-Dove discussed the bill on MSNBC's Way Too Early this morning, which can be viewed here.

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