Democratic senators expressed their discontent regarding what they termed the “inadequate” U.S. response to a catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar, arguing that the Trump administration is failing its first major test in handling a humanitarian crisis following the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the agency responsible for civilian foreign aid.
Rescue teams from China, India, Russia, and other countries arrived in Myanmar within a day or two after Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which resulted in over 3,000 deaths in Myanmar and at least 22 in Thailand. In contrast, a three-member team from USAID did not reach Myanmar until Tuesday, as reported by The Associated Press.
“We are profoundly worried that the Administration’s response falls short of both our moral and strategic goals — sending a message that our rivals are more dependable and trustworthy than the United States,” the senators stated in a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Chris Coons of Delaware, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
Additionally, the senators requested that the Trump administration lift sanctions on any earthquake relief efforts directed towards Myanmar, a nation currently embroiled in civil conflict following the military coup in 2021.
Myanmar, recognized as one of the most impoverished countries globally, faced some of the highest reciprocal tariffs introduced by Trump, set at 44%.
