During a recent news conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, Senator Marco Rubio addressed concerns raised by aid organizations regarding the disruption of their work despite a waiver being issued for lifesaving foreign assistance. The waiver was issued after the Trump administration suspended almost all foreign aid.
Senator Rubio questioned the competence and motives of aid organizations that claimed they were unable to restart their work due to lack of official notification about the waiver. He expressed skepticism about organizations that receive funds from the United States but struggle to apply a waiver, suggesting that they may be either incompetent or intentionally sabotaging the process for political reasons.
Defending the waiver process, Senator Rubio emphasized that he had issued a blanket waiver specifically for lifesaving programs, ensuring that activities related to providing food, medicine, or any urgent assistance to save lives were exempt from the aid freeze. He reiterated the clarity of the waiver's intent and expressed frustration over the lack of compliance by some humanitarian officials.
Senator Rubio also criticized the US Agency for International Development (USAID), accusing the agency of withholding information from the Trump administration about its programs. He clarified that the goal was not to eliminate foreign aid entirely but to ensure that foreign aid initiatives were logical and effective.
As the newly appointed acting administrator of USAID, Senator Rubio emphasized the importance of maintaining foreign aid programs that have a meaningful impact and serve the intended humanitarian purposes. He underscored the need for transparency and cooperation between aid organizations and government agencies to ensure the efficient delivery of foreign assistance.
