Happening Now: State Department Official Testifies Before Senate On 2026 Budget Request

Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday afternoon on the State Department’s fiscal 2026 budget request.

The hearing comes just days after the Trump administration began its plan to layoff 1,300 employees amid its reorganization efforts. The decision has drawn criticism from Democrats and former diplomats alike that say the move risks national security.

“For the State Department to become an effective instrument of American Foreign policy, we must reform and streamline our institution,” Rigas, who handles management and resources, said in his prepared testimony.

The hearing also follows the dismantling of the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) earlier this month. The actions come as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts — with the support of President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — to cut down on “waste, fraud and abuse” within the federal workforce.

The event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EDT.