Marco Rubio Assumes Role of Acting Administrator Amid Agency Closure Reports
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that he is assuming the position of acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CNN reports, as conveyed by Reporteri.net.
His statement comes just hours after Elon Musk claimed that President Donald Trump had signed an order to shut down the agency.
Rubio clarified that many of USAID’s functions “will continue” and will remain a part of U.S. foreign policy, but he emphasized that these operations “must align with American foreign policy objectives.”
USAID’s Future Under Review
“This is not about ending USAID programs,” Rubio stated. “There are initiatives the agency undertakes that are beneficial, and others that raise serious concerns.”
He further stressed that “as I have made clear during my confirmation hearings, every dollar we spend and every program we fund must align with U.S. national interests. USAID has historically ignored this principle, acting more like a global charity rather than an institution serving national priorities. These are taxpayer dollars.”
Unexpected USAID Headquarters Shutdown
Meanwhile, USAID’s main office in Washington, D.C., was unexpectedly closed on Monday, with employees being informed via email just after midnight not to report to work, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Additionally, USAID logos and photographs showcasing the agency’s humanitarian work worldwide were removed from its offices last week, sources said.
The sudden developments raise questions about the agency’s future role under the current administration.
