Rubio says he’s USAID acting director as State Department absorbs agency

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially taken on the role of acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rubio made this announcement during a press conference in El Salvador, where he emphasized the need for USAID to align with U.S. policy and national interests.

“USAID is not functioning as it should. It needs to be in line with the national interest of the U.S.,” Rubio stated. “We are accountable to taxpayers for how their money is being spent. We must ensure that it furthers our national interests and is not simply a global charity.”

Rubio’s appointment comes at a time of significant change within USAID. Earlier on Monday, employees were instructed to stay away from the agency’s headquarters following an announcement by Elon Musk that President Donald Trump had agreed to shut down the agency. This move has resulted in layoffs and the closure of numerous programs.

As the acting director of USAID, Rubio is focused on bringing about reforms to ensure that foreign aid aligns with the national interest. He emphasized that the current approach to foreign aid, which has been in place for the past two to three decades, will no longer continue.

In a statement to reporters, Rubio confirmed his new role, stating, “I am the acting director. Our aim is to realign our foreign aid with the national interest. The current system has been in place for too long without significant reforms.”

The situation at USAID is evolving rapidly, and updates are expected in the coming days. This breaking news story will be updated as new information becomes available.

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This article was written by Danielle Wallace, a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital. For story tips or inquiries, please contact Danielle Wallace at danielle.wallace@fox.com or visit her on X: @danimwallace.