Marco Rubio Praises USAID Programs but Criticizes Agency's Attitude

Rubio clarified that while USAID needs to reform itself and align with the policies and priorities of the administration and the State Department, it should not operate independently of them.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Monday, left the door open for the possibility that USAID could continue operating or that its programs might not be shut down, contrary to earlier statements made by Elon Musk.

Rubio clarified that while USAID needs to reform itself and align with the policies and priorities of the administration and the State Department, it should not operate independently of them.

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"This is not about ending the programs that USAID runs, per se," Rubio told reporters in El Salvador. "There are aspects of what it does that are beneficial, but there are also areas where we have significant concerns. The issue lies in how it operates as an entity. They are supposed to take direction from the State Department, policy direction. They do not. They are completely uncooperative," he added.

Rubio expressed frustration with the agency’s stance, stating, "The attitude that USAID has adopted over the years is that it operates independently of the national interest. We fund programs regardless of whether they align with foreign policy. That’s ridiculous. These are taxpayer dollars. Every penny we spend in foreign aid must be aligned with the national interest and the foreign policy of the U.S."

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Earlier on Monday, Elon Musk, in his capacity as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), cast doubt on the future of USAID, suggesting the agency should be shut down. Musk stated on X that he had discussed the matter in detail with President Donald Trump, who reportedly agreed with the decision. "I went over it with him in detail, and he agreed we should shut it down," Musk said. "I actually checked with him a few times and said, 'Are you sure?' The answer was yes, so we're shutting it down."

USAID, established in the 1960s, is an autonomous body within the State Department and is one of the world’s largest official aid agencies, accounting for more than half of U.S. foreign assistance. Musk also referred to the agency as "criminal."

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President Trump has not publicly commented on Musk’s statements, but allies of the administration have clarified that it will pursue an "America First" approach on all issues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the importance of this principle in American diplomacy during his first public comments while presiding over the State Department.

On Saturday, two senior USAID officials were relieved of their duties after blocking officials from Musk's DOGE department from accessing rooms and floors at the USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C. DOGE officials were eventually granted access.

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USAID workers at the headquarters were informed via email that the agency would be closed on Monday. "Agency personnel normally assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely, with the exception of personnel with essential on-site and building maintenance functions, who will be contacted individually by senior leadership," the email stated.

USAID has a long history of development work and partnerships in India, among other countries. An archived webpage from 2021 noted that USAID had established 34 public-private partnerships, leveraging $380 million in additional financial resources. The latest figures and details of USAID’s work in India were not immediately available.

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