The Senate has confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving President Donald Trump the first member of his Cabinet

(TNND) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending all U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days pending reviews to determine whether they are aligned with his policy goals.

“Marco Rubio is a very intelligent man with a remarkable understanding ... Noem as homeland security secretary and Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, but with opposition. Rubio, a well-liked senator and former Trump ...

Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida ... Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, but with opposition. WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor Rubio, a well-liked ...

The extent of the impacts of the Trump administration’s sudden 90-day freeze of almost all foreign aid is still unclear almost a week on, as officials and aid workers overseas try to make sense of which activities must be suspended.

The Senate Budget Committee on Thursday advanced Russell Vought’s nomination as Office of Management and Budget director, despite the panel’s 10 Democrats skipping the vote in protest.

Donald Trump and White House Press Secretary said about $50 million of taxpayers’ money had been spent to fund condoms in Gaza, and Washington would stop the programme. It appears that the government is referring to a grant that USAID awarded to International Medical Corps worth $102.

The freeze – which could resume later – has left organizations and government agencies on the local, state and federal levels in flux.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the Biden administration had earmarked $50 million for a condom distribution programme in the Gaza Strip. Her comments came as she was justifying Donald Trump’s sweeping freeze on all foreign aid.

Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, quickly condemned the Trump administration’s offer to roughly 2 million federal employees to resign in exchange for pay, saying in a Senate floor speech that the deal was a trick, that the president didn’t have the authority to make the offer and employees who resign may not be paid.

The directive follows President Donald Trump’s executive order Monday pausing new obligations and disbursements of foreign aid pending review.

A slate of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees have appeared before senators in recent days for key hearings on their road to confirmation. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was the first to be confirmed, securing the secretary of State position with a unanimous vote on inauguration day.