Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, offered general support for furthering U.S. foreign aid and its development agenda as secretary of state, but expressed reservations on various hot-button topics — including women’s health and climate change — during an all-day Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing.
The United States’ relationship with Russia dominated the hearings — specifically, allegations of President-elect Donald Trump’s close political and business ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But questions on American aid policy were peppered throughout the sometimes-tense session, which was routinely interrupted by protesters.
Tillerson remarked favorably on the work of the independent U.S. foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation and PEPFAR, a global initiative initiative that offers programs and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infections.