Shaheen Breaks Barriers as Key Leader on Foreign Relations Committee

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has made history as the first woman to serve as the top-ranking member of her party on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Taking on this leadership role during a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy, she aims to navigate the challenges posed by global conflicts and domestic political divides under the incoming Trump administration.

Shaheen is stepping into her position with optimism about fostering bipartisan cooperation on critical issues like Ukraine's defense against Russia, countering China’s growing influence, and addressing disinformation campaigns from adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran.

Despite concerns over President-elect Trump’s isolationist stance, Shaheen remains steadfast in her belief that the Senate can maintain strong bipartisan support for key global challenges. She points to her working relationship with incoming Committee Chair Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), with whom she shares a commitment to prioritizing ambassador confirmations and making the committee more agile in responding to global events.

Shaheen is vocal about the importance of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, stating that bipartisan support remains strong despite Republican efforts to curtail aid. Last year, 37 Senate Republicans, including Risch, voted to cancel $5 billion in loan forgiveness for Ukraine.

Trump has indicated that Ukraine should “probably” expect cuts in U.S. aid, with some of his advisors suggesting using American assistance as leverage to push Kyiv into negotiations with Russia. Shaheen has acknowledged these challenges but maintains that helping Ukraine secure a strong position in any peace negotiations remains a top priority.

Beyond Ukraine, Shaheen emphasizes the need for the U.S. to counter China’s efforts to undermine American influence globally. She argues that the United States must remain vigilant in addressing disinformation and misinformation, areas where adversaries like Russia and China have made significant strides.

Shaheen has criticized figures like Elon Musk, whose opposition to extending funding for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center—a bipartisan initiative to counter foreign propaganda—she views as destructive. Musk’s actions, she contends, undermine efforts to address the growing threat of disinformation.

Shaheen’s tenure on the Foreign Relations Committee continues her legacy of breaking barriers. She was the first woman elected governor of New Hampshire and the first to serve as both a governor and U.S. senator. Her advocacy for women’s rights has been a defining aspect of her career.

She co-authored the 2017 Women, Peace, and Security Act, which prioritizes the inclusion of women in conflict resolution, peace negotiations, and democratic governance. Citing United Nations data, Shaheen frequently highlights that peace agreements involving women are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years.

Shaheen has also championed bipartisan legislation aimed at empowering women globally. In 2017, she worked with Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins to sponsor the Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights (HER) Act, which sought to permanently revoke the "global gag rule" restricting U.S. funding for organizations providing abortion-related information.

While the bill faced obstacles, it underscores Shaheen’s ability to work across the aisle on critical issues affecting women and families.

As the Foreign Relations Committee’s ranking member, Shaheen hopes to reinvigorate the panel’s oversight of U.S. foreign policy, drawing inspiration from its influential role during the Vietnam War era.

Her leadership style, described as pragmatic and determined, has earned her respect from colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Known for her "dogged" commitment to achieving results, Shaheen is unafraid to challenge obstructionist tactics and push for bipartisan solutions.

Looking ahead, Shaheen remains focused on addressing global challenges, particularly those affecting women and girls. She has been a vocal critic of policies that undermine women’s participation and representation, such as the Trump-era "global gag rule," which she views as harmful to global health and economic stability.

Shaheen argues that empowering women leads to more stable and prosperous societies, a principle that guides much of her foreign policy work.

As she takes on this historic role, Shaheen’s leadership represents a significant step forward for women in politics and a renewed focus on bipartisan solutions to the complex challenges facing U.S. foreign policy.

Whether she will run for reelection in 2026 remains uncertain, but her impact on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is poised to leave a lasting legacy.