The Biden administration will provide nearly $110 million in security and police assistance to Haiti, bypassing a months-long hold on the funds by Republican lawmakers. A U.S. State Department official, speaking on background, revealed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the decision following over 100 briefings to Congress.
“The security situation in Haiti remains untenable due to violence perpetrated by violent gangs, and the people of Haiti cannot wait,” the official said. The funds include $95 million for security mission support and $15 million for the Haitian National Police to counter gang violence.
Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed disappointment, stating, “The Biden Administration’s choice to override the hold I had placed on U.S. taxpayer funding for the ill-conceived Haiti MSS (Multinational Security Support Mission) is extremely disappointing.” Both Risch and Representative Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had earlier put “holds” on the funds, requesting to have “a lot more details” before approval.
The State Department had been engaging with Congress to get approval for the funds, deemed essential for deploying Kenyan police in Haiti, where escalating gang violence has cut off food supplies and displaced hundreds of thousands. Leaders of the foreign relations committees can approve or hold the funds, but the administration can override their holds if deemed necessary for extreme situations.
Melissa Enoch
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