State Department defends Middle East evacuation efforts after criticism

First on Fox: The Department of State Democrats on Capitol Hill say the department is “refusing to help people leave the region” because it opened up conversations with Congress about pulling Americans out of the Middle East.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Digital that the department is in “constant contact” with Congress, particularly regarding repatriation of stranded Americans.

“The State Department is in constant contact with members of Congress to provide assistance and accurate information to American citizens in the Middle East about the security situation in the region,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital in a statement on Tuesday. “There is no greater priority than the safety of American citizens at home and abroad.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says his department is in constant contact with Congress and thousands of staff to help Americans in the Middle East and has pushed back on Democratic claims that it is refusing to help civilians leave the region. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)

“The State Department has reached out to more than a thousand congressional staffers with briefings on the security situation in the Middle East and is in constant contact with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee to ensure their constituents are informed about the support and assistance available,” Pigott added.

Democrats in Congress have accused the Trump administration of not helping to evacuate stranded Americans from the region.

“So the State Department is forcing everyone to leave the region immediately but also refusing to help people leave the region,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted to X. “The strike itself is illegal and destructive but their lack of preparation for what comes next is also inexcusable.”

“Incompetence everywhere,” added Murphy.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. And other Democrats have accused the Trump administration of incompetence and failure to adequately support Americans seeking an exit amid escalating tensions and strikes involving Iran. (Kevin Dietz/Getty Images)

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State Department sources told Fox News Digital that by Monday evening they had contacted consuls on the Hill with about 130 emails and calls from 88 congressional offices, asking for information to provide components or requesting information about citizens in the region.

The department also told Fox that it spoke with more than 1,300 people Congress staffThree webinars have been held covering the security situation, and the embassy is in constant communication with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee on operating status, regional requests for additional interceptors, and other military equipment.

The department says it fielded 60 emails and dozens of calls with policy-related questions, briefing requests and general inquiries to congressional offices.

“On the first day, we were very concerned about things,” Christy Elmer told Fox News Digital. “I’ve never been to a place where bombs were floating.” (Christy Elmer)

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During an interview with Fox News Digital, Christy Elmer, from New Hampshiredescribed “shock waves” and “red explosions in the air” she saw while in Dubai with her husband.

“We were just sitting on the beach. We weren’t watching the news or anything, just enjoying the morning,” Elmer said. “Suddenly, we An explosion was felt.”

Although she was due to leave Dubai on Sunday, she made the deal Flight cancellation For Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha were directly hit by the strike this weekend. (Sawaisu Tsuji)

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on Saturday, There were airstrikes by Iran The country clashed with the US and its Israeli allies at Dubai International Airport.

She is still in the region, hoping to be out of the country by the end of the week.

Fox News Digital’s Jessica Meikles contributed to this report.

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