Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday regarding the State Department’s budget request.

Rubio appeared before lawmakers to discuss funding priorities for the diplomatic agency. The hearing included questioning from both Republican and Democratic members of the committee.

What Happened

During the hearing, Rubio engaged in several contentious exchanges with Democratic representatives over various topics. Rep. Ted Lieu of California asked questions that Rubio said fell outside the scope of the budget discussion.

Rep. Sara Jacobs of California questioned Rubio on multiple subjects during her time. The questioning ranged across several unrelated policy areas, according to committee records.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California raised concerns about cuts to the USAID program. Kamlager-Dove vocally objected to the proposed reductions before leaving the hearing.

Committee Response

Republican Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida defended Rubio’s testimony and budget proposals. She praised his responses to the questioning from Democratic colleagues.

The hearing reflected ongoing partisan divisions over foreign aid spending and diplomatic priorities. Budget discussions at the committee level have historically drawn disagreement between the two parties on appropriate funding levels.

What This Means

The State Department budget proposal will face further review in committee before advancing to a broader House vote. The hearing underscored continuing debate over the scope and scale of American diplomatic spending.