Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Politico is out with a really attention-grabbing report after it obtained a report displaying steerage from new Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It says that — opposite to studies on the time — that yestrday’s government order from Trump will minimize off overseas help to Ukraine.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio halted spending Friday on most current overseas help grants for 90 days. The order, which shocked State Division officers, seems to use to funding for army help to Ukraine.
Rubio’s steerage, issued to all diplomatic and consular posts, requires division staffers to subject “stop-work orders” on almost all “current overseas help awards,” in accordance with the doc, which was obtained by POLITICO. It’s efficient instantly.
My guess right here is that Politico acquired one thing incorrect or there may be some confusion on the State Dept as a result of this goes straight towards what they had been saying.
The brand new steerage means no additional actions can be taken to disperse help funding to applications already authorised by the U.S. authorities, in accordance with three present and two former officers acquainted with the brand new steerage.
Rubio has been a supporter of Ukraine and a hawk from the start so it might be an odd twist from him as nicely. That stated, Trump recently has talked about pressuring Ukraine to simply accept some kind of peace.