Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken on a new role as acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), following criticism from Elon Musk and President Trump. Musk and Trump have both attacked USAID, with Musk calling it a “radical-left political psy op” and a “criminal organization”, while Trump has referred to its staff as “radical left lunatics”. Rubio has historically supported USAID, stating that foreign aid is critical to national security.
After Trump imposed a freeze on foreign aid, Rubio allowed some humanitarian programs to continue, but with closer supervision. He has put Pete Marocco in charge of day-to-day operations. Rubio has emphasized that the agency will continue programs deemed worthwhile and in the national interest.
The move to place USAID under the State Department is expected to escalate tensions between federal employees and political actors in the Trump administration. There have been reports of internal resistance within USAID, with representatives put on leave for restricting access to secure internal systems.
Furthermore, the Trump administration is pushing for federal employees to return to office work, with a deferred resignation offer for those who refuse, leading to an expectation that up to 1 in 10 federal government employees may take the deal. This decision is part of the administration’s efforts to cut down on what it perceives as a left-leaning and bloated federal bureaucracy.
The Tampa Bay Times has reported on these developments, distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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