Secretary Rubio defends State Department reorganization, says foreign assistance must be ‘tailored’ to U.S. national interest

At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department’s proposed reorganization and changes to foreign assistance are intended to align U.S. diplomacy and aid with “the national interest.”

Rubio said the goal of the restructuring is to “empower ideas and action at the embassy level and through our regional bureaus,” and to give regional teams access to the “full toolbox” of aid, diplomacy and economic tools so assistance can be tailored to U.S. security and economic goals.

The exchange came during the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs’ FY 2026 budget hearing, where members from both parties raised alarm about canceled programs, paused contracts and staff moves. Ranking Member Lois Frankel warned that abrupt terminations had…