Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the State Department’s fiscal 2026 budget.
Rubio’s remarks came as he has been a major force behind President Trump’s efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine as well as a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Under the budget request, federal funding for international development would be significantly reduced. The move comes months after the Trump administration largely dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
He also faced questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier Tuesday.
The hearing was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EDT.
Watch the live video above.