Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in response to the Trump administration’s sudden freeze on federal foreign spending. Rubio criticized the agency for not cooperating with requests for financial transparency. Meanwhile, Elon Musk announced plans to shut down USAID under his Department of Government Efficiency. This decision led to USAID employees receiving an email instructing them to work from home as the Washington, D.C. headquarters remained closed for the day.

Democratic members of Congress, including Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, have raised concerns about the administration’s actions, emphasizing that USAID’s existence and operations are protected by federal statute and can only be altered through congressional action. Established in 1961, USAID manages significant federal humanitarian aid globally, but recent disruptions have left its future uncertain due to the administration’s program halts.

Rubio confirmed his position as acting director of USAID while delegating operational authority to an unnamed individual. He stressed the need for USAID’s activities to align with U.S. national interests and foreign policy objectives. The situation remains fluid, with updates expected as the story evolves. Reporting contributions were made by NPR’s Fatma Tanis, Hansi Lo Wang, and Shannon Bond, indicating ongoing coverage of this developing story.