Additional Coverage:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced he’s the acting director of USAID. He made the announcement during a recent five-nation tour of Central America, while speaking to reporters in El Salvador.
Rubio expressed long-standing frustrations with the agency, dating back to his time in Congress. He described USAID as “completely unresponsive” to State Department policy directives. He emphasized the need for USAID to align with American foreign policy.
Rubio stressed that USAID funds are taxpayer dollars, not charitable donations, and should be used to advance U.S. national interests. He expressed concern over reported lack of cooperation from USAID staff regarding program details and spending.
He confirmed his role as acting director, stating he delegated authority while remaining closely involved. He reiterated his goal of aligning foreign aid with national interests, citing instances where USAID programs contradict U.S. strategy.
Rubio’s comments come amid a major freeze on U.S. foreign assistance and program shutdowns, including in Central America. While he approved waivers for some critical programs in the countries he visited, details remain scarce.
During his trip, Rubio witnessed the repatriation of migrants from Panama to Colombia. He called mass migration a tragedy and emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting Panama’s efforts to deter illegal crossings.
Following a meeting with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Rubio announced Panama’s agreement to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road initiative. Rubio had reportedly warned of potential U.S. retaliation if Panama didn’t reduce China’s influence over the Panama Canal.
He expressed concerns about Chinese control of canal access points, despite U.S. treaty obligations to protect the canal. He described his conversation with President Mulino as frank but respectful, and expressed hope for positive outcomes.
He also praised Panama’s cooperation in slowing migration through the Darien Gap.