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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify on Capitol Hill this week, providing exasperated Democrats with the opportunity to scrutinize the administration’s controversial changes in foreign policy. This will be the first occasion for many Democrats to confront the former Republican senator about the significant cuts to foreign aid and the broader shifts in U.S. diplomatic priorities following President Donald Trump's return to office four months ago.

Rubio is scheduled to present the administration's 2026 State Department budget request in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday morning. This appearance is expected to be contentious, as some Democrats who had previously supported Rubio's January confirmation now express remorse. The hearing is set for 10 a.m., with Rubio also slated to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Once a staunch advocate for foreign aid and international alliances, Rubio has notably shifted his stance to align with Trump’s more isolationist and transactional foreign policy approach. He has supported the administration’s stringent immigration policies, the rapid defunding of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and significant reductions in foreign assistance. Furthermore, Rubio has backed Trump’s hard-line position towards Ukraine, a former ally of the United States.

Last month, Rubio announced plans to reduce the State Department’s U.S.-based workforce by approximately 15 percent, alongside proposals to eliminate or consolidate numerous offices, including several foreign consulates and embassies. This move sparked fresh outrage among Democrats. Representative Gregory W. Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the proposed reorganization, citing concerns about the future of American diplomacy and global leadership.

Returning from a Middle Eastern trip with Trump on Monday, Rubio is also expected to face questions regarding his efforts in promoting a fragile ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. Additionally, scrutiny is anticipated over Trump’s favorable gestures towards Russian President Vladimir Putin and his previous antagonism towards Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, which have unsettled lawmakers from both parties.

In his recent role as acting national security adviser, following the abrupt dismissal of Michael Waltz, Rubio has been involved in negotiations with foreign countries like El Salvador to accept U.S. deportees. He is likely to be questioned about these negotiations and the administration’s plans for the Gaza Strip, given Trump’s controversial statements about redeveloping the area post-expulsion of the Palestinians. Trump’s perceived cold shoulder towards Israel, notably skipping the nation on his first major trip to the region, and his recent acceptance of a luxury aircraft gift from the Qatari government, which has raised ethical and national security concerns, will also be points of contention during the sessions.