WASHINGTON – A senior State Department official is seeking to allay fears that a plan to reorganize the agency will lead to an upheaval of the foreign policy establishment.
Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan tells Congress there is no intention to fold the U.S. Agency for International Development into the department or transfer key operations to the Department of Homeland Security.
Sullivan is seeking to assure the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that USAID is well-represented in department discussions on the reorganization. He says he respects USAID's different mission and culture.
But Democrats are skeptical. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey calls the reorganization effort "ill-defined."
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire says she will oppose any attempt to move the department's refugee programs to Homeland Security.
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