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Home – International News – Amid War in Iran and Funding Ukraine, Rubio Tells Congress the State Department Is ‘America First’

Amid War in Iran and Funding Ukraine, Rubio Tells Congress the State Department Is ‘America First’

Virginia Grace McKinnon

Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday to testify about his 2027 “America First” State Department budget request.

While most department budgets increase significantly, this is the second consecutive year the State Department continues to make significant cuts, no longer operating as “the world’s ATM.”

“Our foreign policy is one that is solely focused on the interests of the United States of America,” Rubio told the committee. Rubio’s request for a $35.6 billion budget is a 30% decrease from the $51.1 billion enacted in fiscal year 2026.

Democrat Senator Jeanne Sheehan is big mad at Secretary of State Marco Rubio for…*checks notes*For spending 44% LESS ?!? pic.twitter.com/XWhdl4fGNy— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) June 2, 2026

Democrat Senator Jeanne Sheehan is big mad at Secretary of State Marco Rubio for…*checks notes*For spending 44% LESS ?!? pic.twitter.com/XWhdl4fGNy

This effort reflects the Trump administration’s efforts to limit unnecessary global spending and a “bloated bureaucracy.” Most of the spending cuts have been in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and grants to nongovernmental organizations, as well as shrinking the department workforce........

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