A dramatic shakeup at the United States Agency for International Development sees Secretary of State Marco Rubio taking control of the humanitarian organization's operations amid widespread staff uncertainty.
According to a CNN report, Rubio announced Monday his role as acting USAID administrator while delegating operational authority to Trump appointee Pete Marocco, signaling the agency's absorption into the State Department.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump's apparent approval to shut down the independent aid agency, as revealed by Elon Musk, who heads the administration's government reform efforts. Democratic lawmakers have quickly challenged the legality of dismantling USAID without congressional approval, setting the stage for a potential constitutional showdown.
The agency's transformation began with a midnight email directing Washington-based staff to work remotely as office spaces were stripped of USAID logos and imagery. Thousands of contractors and civil servants lost access to email systems and agency resources without warning, creating chaos for those on diplomatic missions abroad. The agency's web presence has been reduced to a minimal page on the State Department's website, while its social media accounts have gone dark.
Marocco, who previously served at USAID during Trump's first term, has been tasked with reviewing and reorganizing the agency's activities. Aid groups and officials have accused him of systematically dismantling the organization's capabilities. His appointment as State Department head of foreign assistance and de facto USAID leader raises concerns about the future of American humanitarian efforts.
Trump defended the reorganization during an Oval Office exchange with reporters, dismissing concerns about congressional authority. He characterized the agency as being run by "radical left lunatics" during the Biden administration, promising a forthcoming report on the changes.
Democratic members of Congress gathered outside USAID headquarters in Washington to protest the administration's actions. Senator Chris Van Hollen emphasized the illegality of shutting down the agency by executive order, while Representative Jamie Raskin called it an "outrageous, scandalous, illegal maneuver."
Senator Chris Murphy described the situation as a constitutional crisis, with lawmakers suggesting they would challenge the reorganization in court. Representative Ilhan Omar, who personally benefited from USAID services as a refugee, highlighted the agency's role in showcasing American compassion globally. USAID staff members joined the protest, expressing grave concerns about the impact on humanitarian operations. Kristina Drye, an agency speechwriter, stated:
Watching the way that the very basis of the mission has been completely dismantled has been insane and unconscionable. The short-term implications are that people will die.
A weekend confrontation between USAID security officials and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel escalated tensions when two top security officials were placed on administrative leave. The dispute centered on DOGE's attempts to access security systems and personnel files, with sources indicating classified information may have been involved.
The State Department now has access to USAID's internal documents and systems, raising concerns about information security and operational independence. Senior staff departures have accelerated, with approximately 60 senior USAID employees placed on leave last week for allegedly attempting to circumvent Trump's foreign aid freeze executive order.
Career officials remain defiant, with one Foreign Service Officer vowing to uphold their constitutional oath despite the upheaval. Another official expressed determination to maintain the agency's humanitarian mission:
We at USAID will not let their malignant, cold-hearted kind defeat us, excise the rule of law, or end a long tradition of compassion and generosity from the American people towards those suffering in humanitarian crises.
The United States Agency for International Development, established under President John F. Kennedy in 1961, now faces an unprecedented challenge to its independence and mission. Secretary Rubio, who previously defended foreign aid as critical to national security during his time in Congress, now oversees the controversial merger with the State Department while Trump and Musk push forward with plans to fundamentally restructure U.S. humanitarian assistance programs.
The agency's absorption into the State Department, coupled with widespread staff dismissals and system lockouts, has created immediate concerns for ongoing humanitarian operations worldwide. As legal challenges loom and congressional opposition mounts, the future of America's primary foreign assistance organization hangs in the balance, potentially reshaping decades of U.S. humanitarian engagement globally.
