On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that he had assumed control of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) following a public dispute with the organization.
Rubio stated that he had been put in charge of the autonomous body to address what he described as its “insubordination” to President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Rubio’s announcement comes on the heels of remarks made by Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur and close advisor to President Trump, who pledged to dismantle USAID, calling it a “criminal organization.”
Over the weekend, the agency’s website also went dark, further escalating tensions.
“I’m the acting director of USAID,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to El Salvador.
Although he confirmed his leadership role, he noted that day-to-day operations would be delegated to a staff member.
USAID, which has long been a key player in the United States’ foreign assistance programs, is facing significant scrutiny from the Trump administration.
Rubio, a former senator who has supported foreign aid initiatives, criticized the agency for operating as though it were an “independent non-governmental entity.”
“In many cases, USAID is involved in programs that run counter to what we’re trying to do with our national strategy,” Rubio explained, referring to the agency’s actions over the past several decades.
He emphasized that the lack of alignment between USAID’s work and Trump’s broader foreign policy goals had prompted his decision to intervene.
Further fueling the controversy, Rubio accused USAID staff of failing to comply with requests for information regarding their funding and priorities.
“That level of insubordination makes it impossible to conduct a sort of serious review,” Rubio said. “It’s going to stop, and it’s going to end.”
USAID’s staff, many of whom have reportedly been placed on leave, have yet to respond to the accusations.
As of now, it remains unclear how Rubio’s leadership will impact the agency’s ongoing projects and partnerships abroad.
The tensions between the Trump administration and USAID raise significant questions about the future of US foreign aid and the agency’s role in international development.
With key figures like Rubio and Musk at the forefront of the conversation, the coming months could see dramatic shifts in US diplomacy and foreign assistance programs.