一名国务院高级官员在致参议院民主党人的一封信中指出，自“史诗 Fury行动”（Operation Epic Fury）后伊朗战事升级以来，该机构已“采取积极快速行动，为该地区的美国人提供支持”。
这包括包机、从禁飞区进行陆路运输以及24小时危机应对人员部署。
2026年1月28日，国务卿马尔科·卢比奥在国会山参议院外交关系委员会作证。(J. Scott Applewhite/美联社)
国务院立法事务局高级官员保罗·瓜利亚诺尼（Paul Guaglianone）在致参议院外交关系委员会几位民主党参议员的信中表示，在袭击发生前，该机构“已计划立即采取措施保护并撤离美国公民”。
这封信的发出正值外交官和官员面临“伊朗政权的多次直接袭击”。
“美国外交人员的专业素养和能力令人钦佩，”瓜利亚诺尼写道，“国务院已采取一切必要步骤，保护其人员在该地区及全球各地驻外机构的安全。”
美国公民困于中东：紧急奔赴加州救治病危丈夫
2026年3月1日周日，以色列特拉维夫，伊朗导弹袭击一天后，救援人员和军事人员在现场勘察。(Oded Balilty/美联社)
“尽管面临持续威胁，我们的外交官仍然积极行动并专注于任务，”他继续说道，“他们继续与盟友和伙伴沟通，推进美国的外交利益。”
他的这封信直接回应了参议院民主党人的批评。以新罕布什尔州民主党参议员珍妮·沙欣（Jeanne Shaheen）为首的民主党人指责国务卿马尔科·卢比奥和特朗普政府“未优先在中东派驻有经验的大使”，导致自袭击开始以来，撤离外交官和美国人的行动陷入停滞。
2025年11月9日，参议员珍妮·沙欣与其他投票恢复政府资金的参议院民主党人共同出席新闻发布会。(Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“在国务院上周一敦促美国人紧急撤离的14个国家中，只有6个国家已确认了大使人选，”这些议员写道，“目前参议院尚未有中东地区大使职位的提名人选。因此，在危机时刻，许多关键职位缺乏有经验的高级领导。”
“简而言之，国务院领导层的突然决策和缺乏规划，未能确保其自身工作人员的安全与保障，使我们的人员及其家属不必要地面临风险，”他们继续表示，“冲突爆发数天以来，国务院似乎仍猝不及防，缺乏一个清晰、全面的计划来保护美国人员、其家属以及该地区的其他美国人。”
瓜利亚诺尼指出，该机构正在向超过10.6万名注册“智能旅行者登记计划”（Smart Traveler Enrollment Program）的美国人提供频繁更新，运营着全天候呼叫中心且无等待时间，并迅速回应国会问询，同时与议员密切协调以协助选民。
他还写道，随着沙特阿拉伯、阿联酋、约旦和阿曼的商业航班恢复，国务院正在增派包机，并提供陆路运输以扩大在禁飞区美国人的撤离选择。
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在阿曼、科威特、巴林、阿联酋、卡塔尔、沙特阿拉伯和以色列的美国人，填写危机登记表后将直接收到国务院关于即将开展的包机和陆路运输选项的联络信息。
“目前，近三分之一请求撤离的美国公民在被联系时拒绝了美国政府提供的运输选项，”瓜利亚诺尼写道，“一些美国公民希望留在当地，而另一些人则倾向于其他撤离方式。”
FIRST ON FOX: Nearly 28,000 Americans have returned from the Middle East, according to the State Department, which outlined a large-scale evacuation effort as Senate Democrats escalated criticism over the conflict in Iran.
A top State Department official, in a letter to Senate Democrats first obtained by Fox News Digital, noted that since fighting in Iran escalated following Operation Epic Fury, the agency has “taken proactive, rapid action to support Americans in the region.”
That has included chartered flights, ground transport from closed-airspace areas and round-the-clock crisis staffing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Capitol on Jan. 28, 2026.(J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Paul Guaglianone, the State Department’s senior bureau official of legislative affairs, wrote in a letter to several Senate Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that before the strikes, the agency “planned immediate measures to protect and evacuate U.S. citizens.”
The letter comes as diplomats and officials have faced “multiple direct strikes from the Iranian regime.”
“The professionalism and competence of America’s diplomatic corps are inspiring,” Guaglianone wrote. “The Department has taken all necessary steps to protect its safety, both in the region and at posts worldwide.”
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Rescue workers and military personnel survey the scene of a direct hit a day after an Iranian missile struck in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 1, 2026.(Oded Balilty/AP Photo)
“Despite ongoing threats, our diplomats remain active and focused,” he continued. “They continue to communicate with our allies and partners and advance American diplomatic interests.”
His letter responds directly to criticism from Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who argued that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration have “not prioritized getting experienced ambassadors in place in the Middle East,” leading to a breakdown in evacuating diplomats and Americans since the strikes began.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen speaks at a press conference with other Senate Democrats who voted to restore government funding on Nov. 9, 2025.(Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Of the 14 countries where the Department urged Americans to urgently leave last Monday, only six have confirmed ambassadors,” the lawmakers wrote. “There are currently no pending nominees before the Senate for ambassadorships in the Middle East. As a result, many key posts are without experienced senior leadership at a time of crisis.”
“Simply put, abrupt decision-making and lack of planning by State Department leadership to ensure the safety and security of its own staff left our personnel and their families unnecessarily at risk,” they continued. “Days into the conflict, the Department still appears caught off-guard and lacks a clear, comprehensive plan to safeguard American personnel, their families or other Americans in the region.”
Guaglianone noted that the agency is providing frequent updates to more than 106,000 Americans enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, operating a 24/7 call center with no wait times and responding quickly to congressional inquiries while coordinating closely with lawmakers to assist constituents.
He also wrote that the agency is chartering additional planes for Americans as more commercial flights become available in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Oman, and that ground transportation is being offered to expand relocation options for Americans in places with closed airspace.
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Americans in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel who complete the Crisis Intake form receive direct outreach about upcoming charter aviation and ground transportation options from the agency.
“At this time, nearly one in three American citizens who requested help departing turn down U.S. government-provided transportation options when contacted,” Guaglianone wrote. “Some American citizens wish to remain in-country, while others prefer an alternative departure option.”
