US State Department Refugee Bureau Assumes Overseas Disaster Response Amid Criticism

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has taken over responsibility for international disaster response from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a change driven by the Trump administration's efforts to downsize federal government agencies. This transition has drawn sharp criticism from experts who warn that PRM lacks the necessary expertise and personnel, retaining only about 20 of the 525 USAID disaster specialists, which they say is insufficient for managing large-scale overseas emergencies. An internal diplomatic cable instructs U.S. embassies to consult PRM for disaster declarations and permits initial emergency funding up to $100,000, with further aid contingent on PRM's assessment and coordination with other State Department offices. Critics, including former USAID disaster response leaders, express concern that the U.S. will lose its ability to deploy effective Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), especially with imminent threats like the Caribbean hurricane season. The restructuring reflects a significant retreat from America's traditional leadership in humanitarian crisis response and has already been linked to delays and inadequacies in responses such as the March Myanmar earthquake. The State Department has not publicly commented on these criticisms, while a source confirmed the authenticity of the internal cable and the challenges facing PRM in this new role.