In a move signaling major shifts in U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken direct control of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), citing what he calls “rank insubordination” and a failure of the agency to prioritize American interests. Rubio’s comments, made during an exclusive Fox News interview in El Salvador, underscore the urgency with which the administration plans to reform the organization, a key pillar of U.S. global outreach.
Rubio accused USAID of acting as if it were a “global entity” rather than an extension of U.S. policy. “They don’t consider that they work for the U.S.,” Rubio said bluntly. “They just think their master is the globe, and that’s not what the statute says.” While the Florida senator turned top diplomat declined to endorse the idea of abolishing the agency—a suggestion floated by DOGE chief Elon Musk—he did emphasize a restructuring process aimed at realigning its operations with U.S. national priorities.
Press Secretary details some of the insane spending from USAID over the past few years:
– $1.5 million for DEI in Serbia
– $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland
– $47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia
– $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru pic.twitter.com/F6oskM4QSK— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 3, 2025
“There are things we do through USAID that make sense,” Rubio noted, adding that the administration is evaluating whether those functions would be better handled by the State Department or a reformed version of USAID. What remains clear is Rubio’s insistence that the U.S. will continue its role as a global leader in humanitarian assistance—but only in ways that directly benefit the nation’s strategic objectives.
One of the concerns raised by critics is whether scaling back USAID will create a vacuum for China to expand its influence through global development projects. Rubio dismissed this notion. “If China wants to waste money on projects that don’t align with their national interests, let them,” he said. “We’re not going to fund programs that undermine ours.”
The move comes amid significant geopolitical tension, particularly in Latin America, where Rubio has been making stops to shore up alliances. His visit to Panama prompted a major announcement from the Panamanian government that it would withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative—a decision Rubio praised but said must be followed by further steps.
Here are just a few outrageous examples of how USAID mismanages our precious taxpayer dollars.
THIS is how Democrats want the government to spend your money.
It’s madness! House Republicans will work with the Trump Administration to eliminate wasteful spending and policies that… pic.twitter.com/UvfsS8ieK4
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 4, 2025
Meanwhile, the administration’s actions regarding USAID have drawn backlash from key groups, including the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which represents U.S. foreign service workers. In a statement, the organization warned that dismantling USAID could jeopardize U.S. national security and bypass Congressional oversight while undermining the efforts of dedicated development professionals working abroad.
On the trade front, Rubio commented on President Trump’s recent 30-day suspension of tariffs on Mexico and Canada, acknowledging that it would shift the U.S.’s economic dynamic with its closest neighbors. While discussions of Canada potentially becoming the 51st state were mentioned jokingly, Rubio stressed that the State Department has no role in such negotiations.
The trip also included discussions on Venezuela, where Rubio reinforced the administration’s hardline stance against the Maduro regime despite its recent gestures, including the release of American hostages. “Maduro knows we have many options to inflict damage on his regime,” Rubio warned, reiterating that there are no plans to recognize the disputed leader’s government.
Rubio’s tour of Latin America continues this week, with stops in Costa Rica and Guatemala. As his efforts to reshape both U.S. foreign aid and regional diplomacy intensify, the message is clear: America’s global engagement is being recalibrated, and Rubio is at the center of it.
