Senate Democrats: Trump Myanmar earthquake response ‘lagging’

Senate Democrats in a Wednesday letter criticized the Trump administration’s response to a recent earthquake in Myanmar that left thousands dead.

“We write with urgent concerns about the lagging U.S. response to the devastating earthquake that struck Burma and neighboring Thailand on March 28, 2025,” the senators wrote in their letter, using an alternative name for Myanmar.

“We ask that you make clear that U.S. sanctions will not impede providing critical relief in the wake of this natural disaster, and we urge you to organize a stronger emergency assistance effort as the death toll climbs and millions of displaced people endure both aftershocks from the earthquake and ongoing Burmese military airstrikes,” the senators added.

The letter, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is signed by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Chris Coons (Del.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.).

The earthquake in Myanmar occurred Friday, with the country’s government saying the death toll reached 3,145 on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. Thousands of buildings were toppled by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that also resulted in damage to roads, the AP reported.

In their letter, the Democratic lawmakers requested information including if Americans are “still able to deploy certified search-and-rescue teams to disaster zones from Virginia and Southern California” from the secretaries.

“China, Russia, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand itself have reportedly all sent emergency teams and supplies to Burma,” the senators wrote. “Meanwhile, it is unclear what, if any, emergency response the United States has marshaled thus far.”

“This is the first test of the United States’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the wake of the administration’s foreign assistance review and dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),” the senators added.

The Hill reached out to the White House, State Department and Treasury Department for comment.

“We do not comment on congressional correspondence,” a spokesperson for the State Department said in an emailed statement to The Hill. “The United States sends our deepest condolences to all affected in Burma and Thailand by the devastating earthquake. A team of U.S. humanitarian experts are in Burma to assess continued needs on the ground, share information with partner countries, and further inform our response.”

This story was updated at 6:38 p.m. on April 6.