Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid down a stern warning to his top deputies behind closed doors, according to a new report.
Rubio told senior State Department officials in a meeting last week that unethical conduct would get them fired no matter how well connected they were, Reuters reported Saturday, citing four people familiar with the matter. The meeting came after Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece in mid-October, following news reports that raised concerns she had traded access to Trump administration officials for money, gifts and favors.
Guilfoyle has denied those reports and said on social media that she would defend her reputation.
According to the people who spoke to Reuters, the meeting included many of the department’s roughly two dozen assistant secretaries. Rubio complained that too many officials were pushing their own policy agendas without coordinating, and he told them major decisions needed approval from him or Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
The State Department declined to comment on the meeting.
Shortly afterward, policy chief Jeremy Lewin was pushed out of his post, three of the sources told Reuters, partly over concerns that he was working on issues beyond his portfolio. One source said department leadership had grown frustrated with his “freelancing.” None of the sources tied his exit to ethical misconduct.
Lewin, who came to government through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, disputed that account in a statement to the outlet.
“The suggestion that I was fired is false,” he said, adding that he left to take a private sector job and plan his wedding.
Rubio’s office now also has to sign off on all political travel after he grew frustrated with how often political staff were traveling overseas, one of the sources said.
The crackdown arrives as Republicans regroup after Tuesday’s midterm losses handed Democrats control of Congress. Democrats have vowed to investigate dealings between Trump aides and foreign officials once they take power in January. The Trump administration has denied allegations of self-dealing.
Rubio has played down speculation about a 2028 presidential run but has not ruled one out, and Reuters noted his handling of the department could become a campaign issue if he jumps in.
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