Rubio Says State Department Focused on Border, Energy, Curbing Censorship

The new secretary of state also promised to reward ‘performance and merit,’ including within the State Department ranks.

President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, testifies before the Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled his key priorities under the new Trump administration on Jan. 22 while vowing to build a more “innovative, nimble, and focused” State Department as part of efforts to advance the national interest.

In a statement, Rubio, formerly a U.S. senator from Florida, said President Donald Trump had given him “a clear direction to place our core national interest as the guiding mission of American foreign policy.”

“Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions,” Rubio said. “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

Rubio is the first of Trump’s Cabinet nominees to secure Senate confirmation and take office.

He was sworn in as the United States’ 72nd secretary of state on Jan. 21.

Rubio said advancing the national interest will require replacing some priorities, deemphasizing some issues, and eliminating various practices implemented under the Biden administration.

He vowed to focus on curbing mass migration into the United States and securing the nation’s borders, noting that the State Department will “no longer undertake any activities that facilitate or encourage mass migration.”

“Our diplomatic relations with other countries, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, will prioritize securing America’s borders, stopping illegal and destabilizing migration, and negotiating the repatriation of illegal immigrants,” Rubio said.

Trump has issued multiple executive actions regarding the border crisis since returning to the White House, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S. southern border.

Rubio also promised to reward “performance and merit,” including within the State Department ranks. He pointed to Trump’s recent executive order aimed at eliminating policies and programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the federal government.

“This order will be faithfully executed and observed in both letter and spirit,” Rubio said. “Relatedly, we must return to the basics of diplomacy by eliminating our focus on political and cultural causes that are divisive at home and deeply unpopular abroad.”

Removing the focus on such issues will allow the State Department to conduct a “pragmatic” foreign policy in cooperation with other nations to advance core national interests, Rubio said.

Rubio Vows to Support Free Speech, End Censorship

In addition, Rubio said the State Department must curb censorship and suppression of information and “reprioritize truth.”

He pledged that the department, under his leadership, would “support and defend” Americans’ rights to free speech, and end any programs that lead to censorship in any way.

“While we will combat genuine enemy propaganda, we will do so only with the fundamental truth that America is a great and just country whose people are generous and whose leaders now prioritize Americans’ core interests while respecting the rights and interests of other nations,” Rubio said.

Finally, Rubio said the department “will use diplomacy” to help Trump fulfill his promise for a return to U.S. energy dominance.

He said that although ongoing threats to the environment cannot be ignored, the federal government must do away with climate policies that “weaken America.”

The secretary of state added that the department will, however, support “sensible” environmental protections.

Earlier this week, Trump announced that he pulled the United States out of the Paris climate agreement; Iran, Libya, and Yemen are the only nations that have not ratified the agreement.

Trump also declared a “national energy emergency,” reversing previous climate regulations put in place under President Joe Biden and allowing the United States to accelerate oil and gas production.

“In short, President Trump’s forward-looking agenda for our country and foreign relations will guide the State Department’s refocus on American national interests,” Rubio said. “Amid today’s reemerging great power rivalry, I will empower our talented diplomatic corps to advance our mission to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”