Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) have introduced the Mexico Security Assistance Accountability Act, a bipartisan bill requiring the U.S. State Department to develop a strategy to dismantle Mexican drug cartels and ensure that U.S. security assistance to Mexico yields measurable results.
The bill mandates that the State Department outline clear priorities, milestones, and performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of more than $3 billion in U.S. security aid provided to Mexico over the past 15 years. The strategy must also aim to strengthen Mexico’s military and law enforcement capabilities and address public corruption and impunity.
According to the 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are the main sources of fentanyl and other illicit drugs entering the United States. Fentanyl overdoses have killed more than 300,000 Americans, including over 4,000 Pennsylvanians annually.
A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that the State Department had not adequately tracked or assessed the impact of its assistance programs in Mexico.
The bill seeks to establish greater accountability and improve outcomes in U.S.-Mexico security cooperation.
