Congress must reject Secretary Marco Rubio’s reckless proposed reorganization of the State Department, thirteen leading civil society organizations said today in a joint statement addressed to the Congress.
Rubio’s proposal, announced on April 22, 2025 and revised on May 29, 2025, would gut State Department offices on human rights, free expression, women’s equality, global criminal justice, conflict stabilization, democracy, labor, and refugees. These cuts, combined with the recent evisceration of U.S. foreign aid programs, would devastate the United States government’s ability to advance human rights and provide humanitarian assistance globally.
The thirteen civil society organizations urged the Trump administration to revisit Rubio’s plans. They called upon the U.S. Congress to uphold its constitutional obligation to ensure that the U.S. remains committed to human rights principles. They also called on Congress to ensure that the life-saving funds already appropriated for humanitarian and refugee assistance are disbursed as intended.
“Marco Rubio’s slash-and-burn approach to vital State Department programs will have devastating consequences for the most marginalized people. Already, the destruction of USAID under Rubio’s watch has led to suffering, and even death, among everyone from rape survivors to HIV patients to refugees fleeing war. Rubio’s latest attack on crucial diplomatic, policy and program offices would further punish people around the world seeking dignity and human rights. The administration must reverse this cruel course,” said Amanda Klasing, Amnesty International USA’s National Director of Government Relations and Advocacy.
“This so-called reorganization is a fig leaf for the self-destruction of U.S. government human rights and humanitarian capacity, at a moment of peak forced displacement and unchecked authoritarian overreach globally,” said Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First. “Rather than listening to his own humanitarian and human rights experts — who embody selfless, non-partisan public service to the American people taking on challenges too large for any one government to solve alone — Secretary Rubio is kicking them to the curb.”
“The U.S. government’s diplomatic capacity, built over decades of bipartisan collaboration and sustained by dedicated expert staff, is instrumental in defending fundamental freedoms and democratic values worldwide, including press freedom. Its strength is critical for America’s national security and global standing, and provides a consequential lifeline for journalists and media outlets who find themselves in the crosshairs for their reporting. CPJ therefore urges Congress to reject this proposed reorganization and ensure the continued strength of U.S. efforts to protect fundamental freedoms, including press freedom and journalists globally,” said Loghman Fattahi from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
“The State Department provides essential support for internet freedom and human rights across the U.S. government and around the world. At a time when authoritarian governments globally are regularly abusing technology — shutting down the internet, targeting people with invasive spyware, and pressuring platforms to censor protected speech — the proposed reorganization guts America’s ability to combat abuses of technology. It is critical Secretary Rubio maintains State Department capacities to promote and defend internet freedom and human rights through robust diplomatic engagement with governments and companies,” said Michael De Dora, U.S. Advocacy Manager at Access Now.
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