U.S. Continues Foreign Aid Despite USAID Freeze, Says Rubio

In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the United States will continue providing foreign aid, even as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) faces a program freeze pending a comprehensive review.

Rubio’s remarks came during an interview with Catherine Herridge for X, where he addressed concerns about the future of U.S. foreign assistance.

“I’m not against foreign aid. I’ve supported foreign aid. We’re going to do foreign aid. No one here is saying we’re going to have zero, and some [programs] have already [survived],” Rubio stated, emphasizing that the freeze does not mean an end to U.S. global assistance efforts. However, he also expressed skepticism about certain USAID initiatives, asserting that some programs “shouldn’t have ever existed.”

The freeze on USAID programs follows increased scrutiny of the agency’s operations, a move initiated during former President Donald Trump’s administration. Critics, including Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with USAID.

Musk has gone so far as to label the agency a “criminal organization” that “needs to die.”

As the review unfolds, USAID employees worldwide have reportedly been placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s website, including past financial reports, has been taken offline. These developments have raised questions about the transparency and future direction of U.S. foreign aid programs.

Despite the controversy, Rubio’s comments suggest that foreign aid remains a priority for the U.S. government, albeit with potential reforms on the horizon. “We’re going to do foreign aid,” he reiterated.

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