Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), expressing long-standing concerns about the agency's responsiveness to U.S. foreign policy objectives.

During a recent visit to El Salvador, as part of a five-nation tour of Central America, Rubio addressed reporters at Aeroman, a maintenance firm in San Luis Talpa, confirming his new position. He voiced his frustration with USAID, tracing back to his time in Congress, criticizing the agency's perceived unresponsiveness to State Department policy directives. Rubio emphasized the importance of aligning USAID's operations with U.S. national interests.

He reiterated his stance from his confirmation hearing, stating that all U.S. spending and programs must serve American interests. Rubio expressed concern over reports of USAID's reluctance to cooperate with inquiries about program details, funding recipients, and contractors. He stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars for foreign aid.

While acknowledging his role as acting director, Rubio mentioned delegating the day-to-day responsibilities. He underscored his commitment to ensuring foreign aid aligns with national interests, citing instances where USAID programs seemed to contradict U.S. strategies in specific countries or regions.

Rubio's comments coincided with USAID staff being instructed to stay away from the agency’s Washington headquarters following Elon Musk's announcement that President Trump supported shutting down the agency. This followed reports of layoffs, program closures, and employees being locked out of computer systems. Democratic lawmakers protested these actions, questioning Trump's authority and criticizing Musk's access to sensitive government information.

During his visit to Panama, Rubio witnessed a repatriation flight of migrants to Colombia and discussed the issue of mass migration. He also addressed Panama's involvement in China's Belt and Road initiative, expressing concerns about China's role in canal operations and urging Panama to reduce its reliance on China. Rubio's trip occurred amidst a freeze on U.S. foreign assistance and stop-work orders affecting U.S.-funded programs, although waivers were reportedly granted for certain critical programs in the countries he visited.