The Trump administration has canceled 83% of the programs, equivalent to 5,200 contracts, of the disbanded US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the current head of USAID, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, thanked billionaire Elon Musk for pushing for the cuts.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters on a flight to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on March 10.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Musk for pushing to cut most USAID programs, according to USA Today on March 11.
"Thank you DOGE and our hard-working officials who have worked so hard to achieve this historic reform that is long overdue," Rubio said on his X account (formerly Twitter name) on March 10.
“Difficult but necessary,” Musk replied. “It was great working with you. The most important parts of USAID should always be in the State Department.”
President Trump seeks to 'correct' billionaire Musk because of cabinet reaction?
The move by Secretary of State Rubio came after US media reported on a heated argument between the country's top diplomat and billionaire Musk, an adviser to President Trump, during a cabinet meeting on March 6.
At the meeting, Mr. Musk accused Mr. Rubio of not reducing staff as requested, while the Secretary of State and several other ministers expressed dissatisfaction with DOGE's excessive interference.
The remainder of USAID was transferred to the State Department. "In consultation with Congress, we retained the remaining 18% of our programs (1,000 programs), which are now more effectively run under the State Department," Rubio said.
On March 9, President Trump took to social media to deny news that there had been trouble in the relationship between the two "favorite generals".
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Mr. Trump had dinner with Mr. Rubio and Mr. Musk on March 8.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngoai-truong-my-lam-hoa-voi-ti-phu-musk-185250311092140272.htm
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