The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, defended the cuts from the State Department to foreign aid while tested before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
The classification member Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire criticized Rubio and Doge for dismantling USAID and US programs worldwide.
She warned Rubio that China is filling that void and turning more than the United States allies by her side.
“Beijing is making the case … that they are a more reliable partner than the United States,” he said.
Rubio ruled out his claims and said that the administration’s mission is to make the State Department more “holistic” and reduce unnecessary expenditure.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the request for the budget of the State Department of President Donald Trump for the State Department, in Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 20, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
“Matura foreign policy requires a rebalancing interests,” he said.
Rubio said that the agency will make changes and discuss cuts and reorganizations with Congress with its 2026 budget proposals.
