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FIRST ON FOX: The State Department revealed communications with Congress on getting Americans out of the Middle East as Democrats on Capitol Hill say the department is “refusing to help people leave the region.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Digital that the department has been in “constant contact” with Congress, specifically related to getting stranded Americans back home.
“The State Department is in constant contact with members of Congress in order to provide American citizens in the Middle East with assistance and accurate information on the security situation in the region,” State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital in a statement Tuesday. “There is no greater priority than the safety of American citizens both at home and abroad.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says his department has been in constant contact with Congress and thousands of staffers to assist Americans in the Middle East, pushing back on Democratic claims that it is refusing to help citizens leave the region. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)
“The State Department has reached over a thousand Congressional staffers with briefings on the security situation on the Middle East and continues to be in constant contact with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee to ensure that their constituents have the facts on available support and assistance,” Pigott added.
Democrats in Congress have accused the Trump administration of not assisting in getting trapped Americans out of the area.
“So the State Department is forcing everyone to immediately leave the region but is also refusing to help people leave the region,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted to X. “The strike itself is illegal and disastrous but their lack of readiness for what comes next is unforgivable as well.”
“Incompetence everywhere,” Murphy added.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and other Democrats have accused the Trump administration of incompetence and failing to adequately support Americans seeking to evacuate amid escalating tensions and strikes involving Iran. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Sources at the State Department told Fox News Digital that they contacted the Consular on the Hill with approximately 130 emails and calls from 88 congressional offices through Monday evening, seeking information to provide constituents or request information about citizens in the region.
The department also told Fox that they communicated with more than 1,300 congressional staffers, held three webinars covering the security situation, and have been in constant communication with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee on Embassy operating status, regional requests for additional interceptors, and other military equipment.
The department says it made 60 emails and a dozen calls on policy-related questions, briefing requests, and general inquiries from congressional offices.
“On the first day, we had a lot of anxiety about things,” Kristy Ellmer told Fox News Digital. “I’ve never been in a place that had bombs floating above.” (Kristy Ellmer)
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During an interview with Fox News Digital, Kristy Ellmer, from New Hampshire, described the “shock waves” and “red bursts in air” she witnessed while with her husband in Dubai.
“We were just sitting on the beach. We hadn’t been watching the news or anything, just enjoying the morning,” Ellmer said. “All of a sudden, we felt explosions.”
She was scheduled to leave Dubai on Sunday, though she dealt with flight cancellations for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha were all directly hit by strikes this weekend. (Sawayasu Tsuji)
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On Saturday, Iranian airstrikes hit the Dubai International Airport as the country exchanged blows with the U.S. and its Israeli allies.
She still remains in the region, hoping to get out of the country by the end of the week.
Fox News Digital’s Jessica Mekles contributed to this report.
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