On February 4, 2025, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced that he will serve as the Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He stated that he has delegated the management authority to someone else but did not disclose the specific individual chosen for the role.
During his visit to El Salvador, Rubio criticized USAID for its “lack of responsiveness” and stated that some of its programs are not in line with U.S. national interests. Rubio emphasized the need for USAID to align with U.S. diplomatic strategy while also highlighting that certain key projects will be retained.
Rubio told reporters in El Salvador that he is now responsible for the operations of USAID.
The Trump administration is pushing for significant reductions in USAID. Billionaire Elon Musk claimed that Trump has approved the closure of the agency and its merger into the State Department. On Monday, the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC, was already closed, and employees were instructed to work remotely from home.
President Donald Trump stated at the White House on Monday that he does not need Congressional approval to abolish USAID. He criticized the agency for being “completely out of control” during the previous administration, with funds being misallocated. He promised to release a related report but did not provide a specific timeline.
“We just want to do the right thing. This should have been done a long time ago,” Trump further expressed in the Oval Office of the White House.
“We will release a report,” Trump added, “and at the appropriate time, we will make this report public.”
When asked if he supports USAID, Trump stated that he agrees with the “concept” of the foreign aid agency but criticized its implementation. He remarked, “The idea is good, but ultimately it depends on the people managing it.”
Upon taking office, Trump froze all foreign aid funding and suspended projects funded by the United States, aligning this reform with a shift in U.S. diplomatic strategy.
The restructuring of USAID by Trump is not unprecedented internationally. In 2013, then-Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper merged the Canadian International Development Agency into the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development. Similarly, in 2020, then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson merged the UK Department for International Development, citing a lack of strategic focus in aid to Zambia and Ukraine.