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Senator Chris Van Hollen announced on Thursday that he will challenge Chuck Schumer for the role of Democratic Senate majority leader. The Maryland Democrat has gained support among party members through his vocal criticism of the Trump administration’s dismantling of poverty-reduction and global health programs.
Investigating Foreign Aid Cuts and Trump Administration Actions
In an interview with NPR, Van Hollen outlined his intentions to highlight the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on global interests and the United States. As the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee, which oversees the State Department and remaining operations of the United States Agency for International Development, he holds a position to influence legislative and investigative efforts regarding foreign aid.
Van Hollen stated that his primary priority is to analyze the harm caused by the administration, pointing to estimates that over 700,000 individuals globally died between January 2025 and January 2026 due to USAID cuts. He noted that gaining the majority provides the authority to hold public hearings and educate the public on the consequences of these decisions, referencing past cuts to Ebola response funding that he argued hindered containment efforts for the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Leveraging Congressional Power and the Purse
Operating as the majority grants distinct tools, specifically congressional control over funding. Van Hollen pointed out that the Trump administration has withheld appropriated funds for domestic and international health programs. He highlighted a past instance where the administration rescinded over $500 million for global health, as well as current efforts where approximately $1.5 billion intended for public health is reportedly being used to wind down USAID.
To counteract the administration’s disregard for non-binding congressional guidance, known as report language, Van Hollen plans to transform these guidelines into legally binding statutes. Codifying these safeguards would allow Democrats to pursue legal action in court if funds are diverted from their intended purposes, providing stronger enforcement than previous minority efforts allowed.
Future of Global Health Policy
Regarding the long-term outlook for international aid, Van Hollen indicated that while he does not favor preserving the current administration’s actions, he also does not support simply reverting to the exact status quo of the previous USAID structure. He emphasized the importance of international health and foreign policy initiatives for national security and global relations, noting that a new plan must be developed for how the nation executes this role moving forward.
