This will lead to more hostage taking.
Possibly. But if it was your loved one, would you like to be shut out of the dealings in favor of some bureaucrat?
Other countries allow this. Reagan did it. It's easy to say "Never negotiate!" But in the real world, we shouldn't be governed by bumper sticker logic.
This is actually government surrendering a little power. It sounds like a positive step to me.
You’re right, it will.... but the “important” thing is that it takes the burden of decision-making off the president, who won’t tolerate responsibility for his decisions or his failure to make decisions.
Whatever happens to hostages can thus be blamed on the families.