Senate Democrats Issue Scathing Review of Pompeo’s Tenure at State Dept.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats unveiled a report Tuesday highly critical of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s management of the State Department, two days before he is set to testify on Capitol Hill.

The 46-page report, produced by Democratic staff members on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says Mr. Pompeo’s department is rife with what it describes as troubling issues: vacant key department posts, a culture of disrespect toward career staff members and an atmosphere of political retaliation.

Democrats say this has hampered the agency’s effectiveness in pursuing diplomatic relationships abroad or responding to crises like the coronavirus pandemic.

“President Trump and Secretary Pompeo have left the department decimated and demoralized,” said Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the committee’s top Democrat. “This is not a bureaucratic or inside-the-Beltway issue. There are real consequences for the United States and our national security.”