The U.S. State Department has successfully evacuated hundreds of American citizens from Sudan after two weeks of deadly fighting. The evacuation was conducted with the help of American unmanned aircraft, providing armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200-300 Americans over 500 miles. The State Department is continuing to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those who wish to leave the country.
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The United States has successfully evacuated all personnel and their dependents from the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, in response to the security situation and risk posed to personnel. The evacuation was ordered by President Joe Biden and the Sudanese military agreed to guarantee evacuation requests from the U.S., Britain, France and China. The State Department is advising U.S. citizens in Sudan to consider departing the country, and is providing limited emergency services to U.S. citizens, but not routine services.
The United States is preparing to evacuate its embassy in Sudan due to the ongoing violence, which has already claimed the life of one American citizen. The State Department has offered its condolences to the family of the deceased, but has not yet issued an official statement on the evacuation. Preparations are underway, but it is unclear when the evacuation will take place or how many people will be affected.
The US State Department has officially declared Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich wrongfully detained by Russia, empowering the Biden administration to explore avenues such as a prisoner swap to try to secure his release. The Wall Street Journal has called for Gershkovich’s immediate release, saying the espionage charges against him are “absurd” and “unfounded”. It is unclear when he will be released, but the State Department’s designation gives the Biden administration additional resources to secure his freedom.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed grave concern over the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges, and has called for his immediate release. The Journal and Dow Jones have denied the unsubstantiated allegations and the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation, with the safety and security of American citizens around the world a top priority.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken for sensitive cables from the U.S. embassy in Kabul. The subpoena, signed by Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, requests an internal dissent cable written by 23 State Department employees in Afghanistan. The document is seen as a vital piece of information as the committee investigates the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Biden administration is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle. The State Department has yet to comment on the subpoena.
The U.S. State Department is facing an "unprecedented demand" for passports as Americans prepare to travel again following the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Department is receiving 500,000 passport applications a week, with wait times of 10 to 13 weeks for a regular passport and seven to nine weeks for an expedited passport. The State Department is hiring additional staff and increasing resources to meet the increased demand and is urging travelers to plan ahead and apply for passports as soon as possible.
A new report released by the House Oversight Committee has revealed that the White House under former President Donald Trump failed to report over 100 gifts given to him and his family by foreign governments between 2017 and 2020, valued at over $300,000. These gifts, which included a painting from the president of El Salvador and golf clubs from the prime minister of Japan, remain unaccounted for and have prompted the Biden administration to push for more transparency and accountability. The report’s authors have called for further investigation into the matter to ensure that all gifts from foreign governments are properly reported and accounted for.