Secretary Of State Marco Rubio: Foreign Aid Is Not Charity

Secretary of State Marco Rubio answers a question on the frozen funds from USAID. Rubio said, "We froze foreign aid so we can review those programs. The waiver process exists so we can review those programs today, here. We have issued waivers for programs that make all the sense in the world, they make America safer, and they make America stronger. The programs we've issued for are helping trusted partners intercept and stop drugs and terrorists coming into the United States. But I issued a blanket waiver that if this is life-saving programs; if it's providing food, medicine or anything that is saving lives and is needed and urgent you are not included in the freeze. I don't know how to be much more clear than that. 

I would say that if some organization is receiving funds from the United States and does not know how to apply a waiver,  then I have real questions about the competency of that organization, or I wonder if they are deliberately sabotaging it for the purpose of making a political point.  I want to repeat what I have said: I have long supported foreign aid. I continue to support foreign aid, but foreign aid is not charity, it exists for the purpose of advancing the national interest of the United States."