Overview

• Marco Rubio testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee this week, defending significant restructuring of the State Department and USAID.
• The reorganization includes a 15% reduction in staff, program eliminations, and the folding of USAID into the State Department.
• Lawmakers are questioning the impact of these changes on U.S. global influence, particularly in competition with China, which is increasing its diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
• Rubio, who also serves as acting National Security Adviser and USAID Administrator, is the first person since Henry Kissinger to hold dual high-level roles in diplomacy and security.
• Critics, including some Democrats who regret confirming Rubio, are raising concerns about cuts to foreign aid, Syria sanctions, Gaza aid, and U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war effort.