On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he was taking over as head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which spent $44.2 billion in fiscal 2024 on global humanitarian and other programs. Critics believe that the agency directs too much American taxpayer money promoting progressive political causes and that much spending supports waste, fraud and corruption.
Rubio acted after higher-ups at USAID were not forthcoming when the Trump administration and Musk69传媒檚 DOGE commission sought information on agency spending. 69传媒淭heir basic attitude is we don69传媒檛 work for anyone,69传媒 Rubio explained, adding, 69传媒淭here are things that are happening at USAID that we should not be involved in funding and or that we have a lot of questions about, but they69传媒檙e completely uncooperative. So we had no choice but to take dramatic steps to bring this thing under control.69传媒
Democrats argue that Rubio and the administration are trampling the separation of powers. But the agency was created 60 years ago via executive order and became quasi-independent by an act of Congress in 1998. The enabling legislation notes the head of USAID 69传媒渟hall report to and be under the direct authority and foreign policy guidance of the secretary of state.69传媒 Rubio had every right to step in.
Foreign aid, which accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, is a popular target. Polls show many Americans believe that Washington sends too much money overseas.
But there are also legitimate strategic objectives to supporting underdeveloped nations. 69传媒淲e do know that there are good programs that have existed out there that have benefited the stability of many regions around the world, which, in turn, benefits the United States of America,69传媒 said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
Trump does not have the authority to eliminate USAID. That would be up to Congress. But he certainly has the power as chief executive to reform the bureaucracy while taking action against employees who won69传媒檛 cooperate with efforts to ensure they69传媒檙e working in the best interests of U.S. taxpayers.
