Secretary Marco Rubio Supports USAID Reform Amid Concerns
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Synopsis
On February 3, Secretary Marco Rubio expressed his views on the future of USAID, supporting its operational continuity but highlighting the need for reform to align with U.S. foreign policy. Elon Musk's earlier comments raised questions about the agency's future, but Rubio emphasized the importance of maintaining effective aid programs that serve national interests.
Key Takeaways
- Marco Rubio advocates for USAID reform.
- The agency must align with State Department policies.
- Elon Musk suggested potential closure of USAID.
- Taxpayer dollars should support national interests.
- Two USAID officials were removed for non-cooperation.
Washington, Feb 3 (NationPress) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday indicated that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) could remain operational, despite Elon Musk earlier suggesting its potential closure.
Rubio emphasized that the agency must undergo necessary reforms to align with the administration’s policies and the State Department, rather than functioning independently.
“This isn’t about discontinuing the programs that USAID oversees, in general,” Rubio stated to reporters in El Salvador.
“There are positive aspects of its work, but there are also significant concerns. The issue lies with its operational conduct as an organization. USAID is supposed to follow the policy directives from the State Department, but it fails to do so and tends to be completely uncooperative,” he remarked.
“The stance USAID has taken over the years suggests a belief in their independence from national interests. They finance programs regardless of their alignment with foreign policy, which is absurd. All foreign aid funded by taxpayer dollars must support the national interest and be in harmony with US foreign policy,” he added.
Elon Musk jeopardized USAID's future on Monday when he remarked as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “I discussed it in detail with him, and he concurred that we should terminate it,” Musk shared on X regarding his conversations with President Donald Trump about the agency.
“I double-checked with him a few times and asked, ‘Are you certain?’”
“The response was affirmative,” he confirmed. “Thus, we are proceeding with the closure.”
Established in the 1960s, USAID is an autonomous entity within the State Department and ranks among the world’s largest official aid organizations, managing over half of US foreign assistance.
Musk also labeled the agency as a “criminal.”
President Trump has yet to publicly comment on Musk’s statements; however, his associates have indicated that the administration will adopt an America First approach on all matters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the significance of this principle in American diplomacy during his initial public address at the State Department.
On Saturday, two high-ranking USAID officials were dismissed for obstructing DOGE officials from accessing areas within the USAID headquarters in Washington DC. Eventually, DOGE officials gained access.
USAID personnel at the headquarters received an email stating that the agency would be closed on Monday: “Personnel typically assigned to USAID headquarters will work remotely, except for essential on-site personnel who have been individually contacted by senior leadership,” the email stated.
The agency boasts a lengthy history of development initiatives and partnerships, particularly in India, among numerous other nations. An archived page from 2021 indicated that in recent years, USAID established 34 public-private partnerships, leveraging $380 million in additional funding resources. The most recent statistics regarding USAID's activities in India were not immediately available.
