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NJ Sen. Andy Kim: "Mysterious People" In New Administration Are Telling Employees Not To Enter USAID Building
NJ Democratic Sen. Andy Kim says he tried and failed to enter the USAID headquarters building in Washington on Monday morning.
"I went inside trying to speak to the acting administrator, Gray. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet with him," Kim said. "I want to hear straight from him if these are the orders that he gave. You have mysterious people within this new administration sending out emails across the entirety of USAID, telling them not to show up."
"I talked to the security guard just in there. He said he has been given specific orders to prevent employees of USAID from entering the building, and I just find that to be absolutely ridiculous," he said.
SEN. ANDY KIM: I'm Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey. About 20 years ago, when I first came to work for the federal government, I walked through these doors right behind me.
I started off my career in public service at USAID, and I just have to say how proud I was to be able to serve the country, how proud I was to work for USAID, to be part of the foreign policy of this country. And I have to tell you, it was really tough today walking through the same doors, 20-some years later, only to see it shut down to employees.
All weekend long, I was getting calls and phone calls from people that I worked with at USAID before, people that are there now, people who have been disrespected by this administration that pushes them to the side, basically calls them criminals, and tells them not to show up to work.
In fact, I went inside trying to speak to the acting administrator, Gray. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet with him, and I'm going to continue to try today to be able to meet with the acting administrator because I want to hear straight from him if these are the orders that he gave. You have mysterious people within this new administration sending out emails across the entirety of USAID, telling them not to show up.
I talked to the security guard just in there. He said he has been given specific orders to prevent employees of USAID from entering the building, and I just find that to be absolutely ridiculous.
This is no way to govern. This is no way to treat public servants. And this is no way for us to conduct our foreign policy as a country.
So I just had to show up today, see it with my own eyes--the chaos of this administration and just their attacks upon public servants in our country.
What recourse does Congress have?
It doesn't seem like any, you know. Some members are really speaking out about how this is being handled.
I certainly hope Congress takes action because what is happening here is illegal.
It is unacceptable to have a president try, through executive power, to reorganize or remove USAID.
This is an entity that was created through federal statute, codified through federal statute, and something that cannot be changed, cannot be removed except through actions of Congress.
So the idea that they are moving forward in this way without any notification to us about trying to change a federal statute just shows how much of a power grab this is.
So yes, I do hope that Congress--I certainly want to go back to the Capitol today, engage with my colleagues, and see what actions we can take to try to stand up for the American people, stand up for our laws.
Employees were not allowed in or were escorted in and then escorted out, and we even heard from some of them. They are worried about the repercussions this could have worldwide.
First and foremost, I tell the staff of USAID, I'm sorry for what's happening.
I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart, as someone who was so proud to work at USAID.
My very first job in the federal government was right here at USAID, and the fact that these employees are being demonized--the fact that they're being called a criminal organization by Elon Musk, the fact that they're being told not to show up, that the federal aid is being frozen--I mean, it's just such disrespect.
They deserve better. They are public servants. They swear an oath to serve this country, and right now, they are being treated as if they are the criminals.
Bad actors will tell you that USAID is nothing more than charity. Don't fall for the lies.Senator Kim, an alum of USAID, explains the agency's work and how its operations directly protect American national security. pic.twitter.com/P0Qsj0uoMB-- Senator Andy Kim's Office (@SenatorAndyKim) February 3, 2025
