Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to discuss the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of State. During his testimony, Secretary Rubio emphasized a shift in foreign policy focus towards aligning with national interests.
"Our foreign policy has to once again return to the national interests," stated Rubio. He highlighted that while America remains committed to global causes, foreign policy decisions must be evaluated based on their benefits to the United States.
Rubio proposed a reorganization of the State Department aimed at enhancing efficiency rather than cutting costs. "What we want to empower is our regional bureaus and our embassies," he explained. The Secretary underscored the importance of empowering ideas and actions at embassy levels as they represent "the front lines of American diplomacy."
He also called for better integration of humanitarian assistance and development efforts with broader foreign policy goals. "Humanitarian assistance and development assistance in AID... have found themselves to be in conflict," he noted, advocating for these resources to be used strategically in alignment with U.S. interests.
The Secretary expressed concerns about aid recipients not reciprocating support in international forums. He pointed out instances where countries benefiting from U.S. aid vote against American interests internationally, contrasting this with China's approach where aid is leveraged through loans.
Rubio concluded by affirming that while America will continue its role as a leading provider of international aid, it will do so in ways that promote national interests: "We are not withdrawing from foreign aid... but we’re going to conduct foreign aid... in a way that furthers the national interest."
