Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to appear before Congress this week, where he will be met with sharp scrutiny from lawmakers—some of whom now question their decision to support his confirmation. Rubio, a former senator from Florida, was confirmed unanimously (99-0) by the Senate on January 20, just hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term. The bipartisan support, which included many Democrats, is now a point of regret for several who feel Rubio has failed to challenge the president’s more controversial decisions.
During his confirmation hearing on January 15 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio aligned himself closely with Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, pledging to advance U.S. interests assertively on the global stage. However, as Trump has centralized power and bypassed congressional authority on key issues—such as slashing foreign aid and restructuring the State Department—critics are increasingly questioning Rubio’s complicity.
Once a vocal proponent of foreign assistance, Rubio now faces pointed questions about the administration’s drastic funding cuts and its decision to downsize both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being merged into the diplomatic apparatus he oversees.
Rubio’s testimony will likely touch on several contentious topics, including the proposed lifting of sanctions on Syria, the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, U.S. aid policy in Gaza, and strategies for ending the conflict in Ukraine. His possible defense of Trump's geopolitical gambits—such as the idea of making Canada the 51st U.S. state or purchasing Greenland—may also come under fire, especially given the diplomatic tensions those remarks have sparked among key allies.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has voiced concerns that Trump’s erratic foreign policy has weakened America’s global standing, particularly in its competition with China. She warned that China is stepping into the vacuum left by U.S. program withdrawals, boosting its diplomatic footprint and humanitarian outreach.
"China is presenting itself as a more dependable partner than the U.S.," Shaheen said in a statement prepared ahead of the hearing.
Though Rubio has maintained a strong anti-China stance throughout his career, even longtime Democratic allies such as Senators Chris Murphy (Connecticut) and Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) have expressed regret for endorsing his nomination, questioning whether he has upheld the principles they expected.
Republicans, however, have lauded Rubio’s performance. His influence in the Trump administration is substantial—serving not only as Secretary of State but also acting as national security adviser, administrator of USAID, and even temporarily filling the role of U.S. archivist. He is the first figure since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to simultaneously hold both the Secretary of State and National Security Adviser posts.
"When I have a problem, I call Marco. He gets it solved," Trump said recently, highlighting Rubio’s growing centrality in his administration.
Rubio will face a packed schedule of testimony this week: on Tuesday, he will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 10 a.m. EDT and the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations at 2 p.m. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Appropriations subcommittee, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.