Murphy, Colleagues Urge Secretary Tillerson to Respect State Department Use of "Dissent Channel'

Press Release

U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), member and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led nine other senators in urging Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to take full and appropriate advantage of the State Department's "Dissent Channel.' In a letter to Tillerson, the senators stated that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's recent statement that Foreign Service Officers who had signed a dissent cable in opposition to the Administration's Immigration Executive Order should "either get with the program or they can go," was "intended as a veiled threat to State Department employees, intended to have a chilling effect." The senators further emphasized the importance of the Dissent Channel in upholding our democratic values, and encouraged Tillerson to respect Foreign Service Officers' use of the Channel.

"Our diplomacy and development professionals are deeply committed to protecting and extending our nation's values and interests, and we are certain that you and our nation will benefit greatly from a full and robust partnership between you and the staff of Department you lead," wrote the senators. "We hope and trust--and encourage--you to take full advantage of the dedicated public servants of the Department of State and USAID, including by forcefully affirming your respect for their use of the Dissent Channel, without fear of reprisal."

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and the full Democratic membership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.); Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.); Chris Coons (D-Del.); Tom Udall (D-N.M.); Tim Kaine (D-Va.); Edward Markey (D-Mass.); Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.); and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also signed the letter.

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