U.S. Department of State:The Week at State: May 29 - June 4, 2026

 

May 29 - June 4 Seven men played key roles in making the United States. How well do you know them? Take our quiz and find out. Here’s what happened at State this week.   Secretary Rubio testified before Congress.  The United States targeted Iran’s shadow oil economy, digital asset exchanges, and illicit fraud networks.  We placed new sanctions on armed group leaders in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secretary Rubio Testifies Before Congress on State Department Budget Request Secretary Marco Rubio testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the FY27 Department of State Budget Request on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., June 2, 2026 (StateDept.) American foreign policy exists to serve American interests, and the measure of success isn’t how much money gets spent, but the results of that spending.  This was the message Secretary Rubio took to the Hill this week as he briefed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Fiscal Year 2027 Department of State budget request. “The United States Government is not a charity. We are not here to play social worker. We are here to win.” The hearings also covered Iran, Cuba policy, and the administration’s ongoing efforts to address the Ebola outbreak in Africa.  He noted that the administration’s focus remains anchored on the fundamental pillars of domestic and international strength.  “Foreign policy cannot be separated from economic policy, from border policy, from energy policy, from any of these other spheres that are critical to our national interest,” Secretary Rubio said. Dismantling Iranian Oil, Digital Asset, and Fraud Networks The United States is going after Iranian digital assets, fraudulent procurement networks, and the shadow oil fleet that fuels its aggression and global terrorism. The State Department sanctioned Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and their leadership for helping the IRGC conduct illicit transactions and move money across borders. The United States is also dismantling a sophisticated Iranian procurement network that has been defrauding American technology companies by posing as legitimate U.S. businesses, routing restricted goods through Dubai, and smuggling them into Iran for the Ministry of Defense.  And the U.S. continued targeting the entities, individuals, and ships behind Iran’s illicit oil economy, directly cutting off financial lifelines to the IRGC and Iran’s military apparatus.  “The United States will continue to follow the money — whether through traditional banking or digital assets — to prevent the regime from developing a nuclear weapon and to disrupt the regime’s ability to fund terrorism,” State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. Sanctioning Armed Group Leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The United States sanctioned two senior armed group commanders responsible for ongoing violence in eastern DRC. The sanctions target:  Gustave Kubwayo of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a Rwandan Hutu militia whose unit has conducted ethnic killings, recruited child soldiers, and committed widespread sexual violence. John Imani Nzenze, M23’s intelligence chief. His Rwanda-backed group has carried out killings and serious human rights abuses against Congolese civilians.  “The Trump Administration is firmly committed to ensuring all parties uphold their commitments,” State Department Spokesperson Pigott said. We “will continue using all available tools to advance lasting stability in the region.” News You May Have Missed The Department updated travel advisories to provide U.S. citizens with additional information regarding the global Ebola outbreak. The United States convened the fourth high-level trilateral meeting between the U.S., Israeli, and Lebanese representatives, and the three governments issued a joint statement. The United States expressed deep disappointment by the decision to release Alexandros Giotopoulos, the convicted leader of the 17 November terrorist organization. The world marked the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when the Chinese Communist Party ordered its troops to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators. The U.S. continues to fight the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, providing personal protective equipment, enhanced health screenings, and financial assistance. Note to Our Readers  We welcome feedback at EmailTeam@state.gov  Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to The Week at State for weekly updates on important work, activities, and news straight from the State Department. Useful links Travel advisories and updates for U.S. Citizens Did you know that you can invite a State Department official to speak at your school, business, or organization? Learn about what we do through the firsthand experience of one of our representatives.  Read More at State.gov

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