Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata raised concerns about the staffing of United States embassies and consulates in the Pacific Islands during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Mar. 18. Amata directed her questions to Under Secretary of State for Management Jason S. Evans, focusing on how limited diplomatic staff may affect U.S. influence in the region.
The issue is significant as it relates to the ability of the United States to maintain its presence and strategic interests in the Pacific, especially amid growing competition from China. Amata said, “I’m going to focus my questions on the staffing of our embassies and consulates. Other colleagues have echoed this concern, but I’m concerned about the Pacific.” She added, “China is out-competing us in almost every single country in the Pacific. In neighboring independent Samoa, we have only 12 diplomatic staff – if that! While the Chinese have a three-story building filled to the brim with staff. And that repeats itself over the entirety of the Pacific. We don’t even have a diplomatic presence in Kiribati – how are we supposed to show the Pacific that we’re committed, when we’re not even present? I also hear from Pacific communities on the lack of consular services in the Pacific.”
Amata asked where Foreign Service staffing needs are most acute and how these shortages might undermine U.S. strategic interests or influence.
Under Secretary Evans responded by acknowledging recent efforts to establish new embassies and fill positions, noting challenges particularly in parts of Africa but emphasizing ongoing work for posts in the Pacific Islands. “We do have people that are willing to go out to the Pacific Islands and serve in those posts,” Evans said.
He continued, “We do have some staffing gaps in some of our missions, but I feel like we’re able to get enough people out on the filed with the right skill sets and with the right support from Washington to manage the situation.”
The discussion reflects broader concerns about maintaining an effective U.S. diplomatic presence as global competition intensifies, particularly with China’s expanding role across Pacific nations.
