Secretary of State Marco Rubio Announces Closure of USAID
In a surprising announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the impending closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In a social media post, Rubio referenced a recent Labor Day conversation with President Donald Trump about job allocations. "He told me to give one to my friend Russ Vought. So I did," Rubio wrote, indicating that Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will oversee the agency’s winding down.
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Rubio emphasized that the transition would save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and that a limited number of core programs would be consolidated within the State Department. "USAID is officially in closeout mode," Rubio stated, congratulating Vought on his new role.
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The decision to dissolve USAID aligns with ongoing discussions in the Trump administration regarding foreign aid, particularly a proposed block on $4.9 billion in congressionally approved funding, utilizing the Impoundment Control Act’s rare "pocket rescission" maneuver. Rubio praised this approach, highlighting the elimination of funding for various programs he deemed contrary to American interests, including $2.7 million for democracy initiatives in South Africa and $4 million for LGBTQI+ awareness.
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Once an independent agency, USAID has been progressively integrated into the State Department under Rubio’s leadership, with over 80% of its budget reportedly cut amid efforts to enhance government efficiency, a move associated with Elon Musk’s influence. In March, Rubio stated that the State Department would collaborate with Congress to better manage the few remaining USAID activities. The decision underscores the ongoing tensions between the White House and Congress regarding foreign aid allocations, reflecting a significant shift in U.S. international development policy.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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