Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that he is assuming the role of acting administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), marking the de facto takeover of the humanitarian agency by the State Department.
In a letter to lawmakers, Rubio revealed that he had delegated the authority of acting administrator to Pete Marocco, a Trump appointee who served at USAID during the first term of President Trump. Marocco has faced criticism from aid groups and officials for allegedly dismantling the organization. He is also serving as the State Department’s head of foreign assistance and was behind a directive to freeze most foreign aid. One aid official claimed that Marocco was intentionally dismantling the system.
This development came hours after Elon Musk, the world’s richest man tasked with overhauling the federal government, mentioned that President Trump had approved plans to shut down the agency. However, Democrats argue that it is illegal for the president to close a federal agency without consulting Congress.
In his letter to the leaders of Congress’ committees on foreign affairs and appropriations, Rubio explained that Marocco had been authorized to begin reviewing and possibly reorganizing USAID’s activities to increase efficiency and align operations with U.S. national interests. Rubio emphasized that the State Department and other relevant entities would consult with Congress on the reorganization.
In a press briefing in El Salvador, Rubio stated that USAID's functions must align with U.S. foreign policy, labeling the agency as “completely unresponsive.” When questioned about USAID’s role in promoting U.S. national security, Rubio acknowledged that some programs run by the agency were important but expressed concerns about others.
Rubio’s frustration with USAID dates back to his time in Congress. In 2017, he defended the importance of foreign assistance, highlighting its critical role in national security, despite being a small fraction of the budget.
The long-established international aid agency has become a target for reform under Trump and Musk’s efforts to overhaul the federal government. Trump and his allies argue that USAID, an independent body created by Congress, has become overtly partisan. Democrats reject this claim, asserting that the president lacks the authority to dismantle the agency.
Later on Monday, Trump stated that he does not require Congressional approval to dismantle the agency, especially in cases of fraud. He criticized the agency's actions under the Biden administration, claiming that money was being allocated to recipients who shouldn’t have received it.
Trump also clarified his stance on USAID, explaining that while he appreciated the concept of the agency, he was dissatisfied with its execution, which he described as influenced by "radical left lunatics."
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