The directive follows President Donald Trump’s executive order Monday pausing new obligations and disbursements of foreign aid pending review.

State Department staff were instructed to “suspend any application requesting an X sex marker” and to “suspend any application where the applicant is seeking to change their sex marker.”

For Marco Rubio, the easy part is over. He was confirmed by the Senate as secretary of state with unanimous support, Democrats joining Republicans in praising his acumen and judgment. Now comes the task that will make or break his tenure: retaining the full backing of his new boss,