FY26 State Department Posture: Protecting American Interests

Committee on Foreign Affairs

2025-05-21

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The congressional hearing featured Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifying on various foreign policy matters, State Department reorganization, and the administration's approach to international relations [ 00:02:11-00:03:56 ] [ 00:07:37-00:07:44 ]

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[ 00:08:03-00:08:29 ]

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. Discussions covered the strategic alignment of foreign aid, specific regional challenges, and the perceived changes in U.S. global engagement under the current administration .

Themes

State Department Reorganization and Foreign Aid Alignment

The administration is undertaking a significant reorganization of the State Department, aiming to center U.S. foreign policy on national interests and ensure all spending contributes to American safety, strength, or prosperity . Concerns were raised about past foreign aid expenditures on programs deemed frivolous, such as "LGBT comic books" or "trans inclusion" initiatives, which critics argued did not serve U.S. objectives or save lives [ 00:02:11-00:02:22 ] [ 00:02:50-00:02:52 ] [ 00:14:37 ]

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. Secretary Rubio affirmed the consolidation of USAID under the State Department to integrate foreign aid as a tool of foreign policy, rather than charity, and to drive policy decisions from regional bureaus and embassies for greater efficiency and accountability . This restructuring, supported by some members, is intended to eliminate duplicative efforts and bloat within the department . However, it also faced strong criticism regarding alleged drastic budget cuts, lack of congressional consultation, and the potential dismantling of crucial humanitarian programs, which some members fear could weaken the U.S. global standing and human rights advocacy [ 00:07:48-00:07:58 ]

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[ 00:24:42 ]

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.

U.S. Global Engagement and Specific Geopolitical Challenges

The hearing addressed the U.S. approach to various global challenges, emphasizing a shift towards a foreign policy rooted in national interest and near-peer competition with China . Discussions included the critical role of sanctions relief in stabilizing regions like Syria to prevent civil war and the resurgence of extremist groups, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in areas such as DR Congo, Rwanda, and between Azerbaijan and Armenia [ 00:29:54-00:30:02 ]

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. The Secretary defended ongoing security cooperation with Mexico and efforts to curb illicit activities [ 00:20:50-00:21:13 ]

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[ 00:21:19-00:21:20 ]

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. Significant debate arose concerning the U.S. stance on Russia's aggression in Ukraine, with questions about defining Putin as a "war criminal" and the strategy for peace . Concerns were also voiced about South Africa's alignment with U.S. adversaries, the importance of economic statecraft, the status of the Abraham Accords, and the impact of the administration's policies on international alliances and U.S. credibility [ 01:35:01-01:35:12 ]

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[ 02:26:55-02:27:03 ]

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Humanitarian Aid and International Development

A key theme revolved around the future of U.S. humanitarian assistance, including programs like PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and disaster relief [ 02:14:26-02:14:31 ]

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. While Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to remain the largest global provider of humanitarian aid, he stressed the need for programs to have measurable outcomes and for recipient countries to build self-sustaining capacity . This stance drew criticism from members who expressed alarm over alleged cuts to international disaster assistance and delays in delivering life-saving supplies, such as therapeutic food for starving children [ 02:14:26-02:14:31 ]

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. These members argued that such actions undermine humanitarian efforts and allow rival powers, like China, to expand their influence by filling perceived voids in aid . The administration's disengagement from UNRWA due to concerns about ties to Hamas was also highlighted as part of a broader reevaluation of aid distribution channels [ 01:14:06-01:14:15 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The meeting was characterized by a contentious and often confrontational tone, particularly during exchanges between Democratic members and Secretary Rubio [ 00:33:55 ]

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[ 00:45:07 ]

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. Frequent interruptions and challenges to the Secretary's answers contributed to a heated atmosphere [ 00:33:55 ]

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[ 00:45:07 ]

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. Partisan divisions were evident, with Republican members generally commending the administration's foreign policy shifts and reorganization efforts, while Democratic members expressed deep skepticism, accusing the Secretary of inconsistency, executive overreach, and undermining U.S. global leadership and values [ 00:02:11-00:03:48 ] . The Secretary, while often defensive, consistently reiterated the administration's focus on national interest and efficient execution of presidential policy .

Participants

Transcript

and LGBT comic books, musicals, plays, and operas.  That stuff was not PEPFAR, to say the least.  It didn't make America safer, it didn't make America stronger, it didn't bring other countries closer to us, and it didn't save lives.  Now many of my colleagues might think that canceling these programs creates an inroad for China.  And I would say that we could only hope that China is stupid enough to spend money in that way.   I want to thank this administration for bringing charges against those who it appears were stealing from the State Department and USAID, and in turn, the American people.  And I want to thank you, Secretary Rubio, for reorganizing the State Department into a lean and effective diplomatic operation.  Let's give proof of that.  Just this past week alone, President Trump secured more than $2 trillion of investment from the Middle East.   That is more than 10 times what Joe Biden secured from the Middle East during his entire four years in the White House, which is not entirely surprising considering under the Biden State Department, there was millions spent on programs like trans inclusion in Tunisia.  That was the focus in the Middle East.  Now, as you know, Secretary Rubio, the job is not done up until now.  Over 80% of the State Department has been unauthorized.   We have bureaus and offices that have grown from thousands of dollars to billions of dollars.  And that changes in law when we pass the first comprehensive and standalone State Department reauthorization that has occurred since 2002.  I look forward to working with the members of this committee.  I look forward to working with you, Secretary Rubio, and I look forward to working with Senator Risch, moving forward to make sure that one thing and one thing alone takes place.   Every single dollar and diplomat that we authorize and send into the field puts America first.  In that, I would now like to recognize Ranking Member Meeks for any opening statement that he may have.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Secretary Rubio, I'm glad you are finally before this committee.  Your testimony actually comes long after the State Department under your leadership took actions   Without required congressional consultation.  Or that were contrary to the law.  But I guess it's better.  Late than never.  But let me be clear, showing up months after the fact.  And refusing to stay until every member has questioned you for five minutes as entitled to under house rules are not the standards to which we hold the secretary of state.  Mr Secretary.  I've known you for a while.   and I respected very much Senator Rubio, even when we disagreed.  Senator Rubio was a principal statesman.  Secretary Rubio, however, as we've seen in the past few months, is something different entirely.  As a senator, you spoke often and forcefully about the dangers of executive overreach.  You warned America not to lose its moral clarity or sacrifice democratic principles for short-term gain.   Senator Rubio recognized that we cannot allow the executive branch to unilaterally determine the direction of the United States foreign policy without accountability to Congress.  Secretary Rubio is doing precisely what Senator Rubio feared, withholding congressional appropriated funds, stonewalling oversight, and acting as if laws passed by this body are optional.   Secretary Rubio has presided over the dismantling and destruction of everything Senator Rubio once defended.  So although you may be the Secretary of State, the acting head of USAID, the National Security Advisor, the archivist of America, the empire you have stumbled upon is not one of influencer, it is a kingdom of ash.
So I ask, was it worth it?   Was it worth it to allow the near extension of U.S.  foreign assistance and USAID, which Senator Rubio said, and I quote, is a very cost effective way not only to export our values and our example, but to advance our security and our economic interests?   And lie is exactly what this administration has done again and again.  Each time Elon Musk and his Department of Awesomeness brag and mislead the American public about massively inflated savings or lie about the program they have cut and their purpose, they're not telling you about the food that rotted on the shelves while people went hungry or the medicine that were undistributed to children needlessly suffering or the trust that was lost by your actions.   But I believe you know better, because you've said as much.  And yet, here we are.  In 2022, Senator Rubio warned about the urgent and growing threat posed by China and called for a fully funded State Department and USAID.  Senator Rubio wrote that soft power tools and alliances were vital to our national security.  And today,   Secretary Rubio is here to defend an 84% cut of the foreign affairs budget.

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