Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Rubio takes control of USAID, pledges to end ‘insubordination’

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Feb 2025 21:40
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The US Agency for International Development is facing huge cuts as it is set to merge with the US State Department as part of Elon Musk's cost-cutting strategies.

Listen
  • x
  • Then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa (AP)
    Then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, on October 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP)

On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he had taken control of the US aid agency, vowing to end what he described as its defiance of President Donald Trump's agenda.

Rubio acknowledged that he and the State Department had taken over the autonomous US Agency for International Development (USAID) after Elon Musk, Trump's billionaire buddy and advisor, threatened to destroy the agency when its website went down over the weekend.

"I'm the acting director of USAID," Rubio told reporters on a visit to El Salvador, but he added he was delegating day-to-day duties to a staffer.

Despite claiming that many of USAID's operations will continue, Rubio, a senator who favored international aid, charged that the organization was behaving like an "independent non-governmental entity."

"In many cases, USAID is involved in programs that run counter to what we're trying to do with our national strategy," he said, adding, "It's been 20 or 30 years that people have tried to reform it."

Rubio accused USAID staff members—many of whom have been placed on leave—of not responding to inquiries about their budget and priorities from the newly elected Trump administration.

"That level of insubordination makes it impossible to conduct a sort of serious review," he stated. "It's going to stop and it's going to end."

Earlier, ABC News had reported that President Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to serve as acting administrator of USAID as part of the agency's transition.

CNN reported on Monday that USAID employees in Washington received an email from management stating that the headquarters would be closed for the day and staff should not report to work.

USAID’s official website went offline on Saturday and remains inaccessible amid reports that Trump plans to dissolve the agency as an independent entity and integrate it into the State Department.

Related News

Trump ties US states' disaster funding to support for Israeli firms

Russia ends self-imposed ban on INF-class missile deployments

The move follows an executive order signed last month, in which Trump suspended all development aid for 90 days to review whether such programs align with US foreign policy objectives.

Elon Musk, head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stated on Monday that Trump had agreed to dismantle USAID.

On February 2, Musk posted on X, calling USAID a "criminal organization" that "needs to die", and separately described it as a "nest of radical left-wing Marxists who hate America."

Musk, who is leading US President Donald Trump's initiative to reduce the size of the federal government, provided an update on the effort Monday, stating that they are working to dismantle the US foreign aid agency, USAID.

During the discussion, which featured former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee, Musk reiterated that shutting down USAID is a primary focus of the initiative.

Musk said, "It's beyond repair," adding that President Trump agrees it should be shut down. 

On Sunday, Reuters reported that the Trump administration removed two top security officials at USAID during the weekend after they tried to stop representatives from billionaire Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DODGE) from gaining access to restricted parts of the building, three sources said. 

USAID is the largest single donor globally, with the US distributing $72 billion in aid during fiscal year 2023. 

In 2024, USAID accounted for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations.

USAID's website was offline over the weekend, and some users couldn’t access it. The agency employs over 10,000 staff members.

Trump supports Musk's efforts, praising him as a smart cost-cutter. That said, Musk's team has gained control of various government systems, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where they’ve locked career civil servants out of critical systems containing personal data.

  • United States
  • USAID
  • Elon Musk
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS