White House officials are reportedly frustrated with Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace's independent efforts to evacuate Americans stranded in the Middle East. They accuse her of complicating the official evacuation efforts by conducting her own rescue missions.
Mace allegedly traveled to the region and engaged with foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, without informing the State Department, which is coordinating the official evacuation flights. She reportedly asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to authorize a Saudi aircraft mission to transport 300 Americans, claiming she had secured the commitment diplomatically.
Officials also stated that Mace encouraged a group of Americans to move from a high-risk area to Jordan without a clear plan for onward travel, requiring the State Department to send a plane to rescue them. White House officials, speaking anonymously, claim Mace's actions are hindering the already complex evacuation process.
One official stated, "If members of Congress want to be helpful they should work with the administration instead of trying to exploit the situation for political gain." Mace's office has not yet commented on the accusations. The State Department also declined to comment.
The reports come amidst ongoing efforts by the State Department to repatriate Americans from the Middle East, with officials claiming to have assisted over 42,000 people through charter flights and other means. However, some Americans have reportedly declined charter flights due to inconvenient connections.
The State Department has also partnered with El Al airlines to fly US citizens and permanent residents from Tel Aviv to New York, providing another avenue for evacuation.
