US state secretary accuses USAID of failing to protect national interests

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of disobedience and disregard for U.S. national interests. According to the official, taking control of the organization was the only way out. Rubio made the comments in El Salvador in an interview with Fox News.

Rubio confirmed that he has already taken over as acting director of USAID and noted that his disappointment with the agency dates back to his years working in Congress, describing the agency as “completely unresponsive.” Rubio stated that USAID should have responded to the State Department’s policy directives, but “refused to do so.”

He continued to criticize the agency’s work, noting that they spend American taxpayers’ money, therefore, every project they fund must advance U.S. national interests.

Rubio declined to answer whether the agency “should die,” as suggested by DOGE Head Elon Musk, instead emphasizing that the goal has always been to reform it.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order to suspend aid to other countries for 90 days.