U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday the original intention was to keep the U.S. Agency for International Development running while reviewing how money was being spent. But he said the government received no cooperation and employees were acting in “contravention” and “insubordination.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused USAID, which oversees food aid, emergency relief and health programs in more than 100 countries, of acting against American interests.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an exclusive interview with Fox News, sounded off on USAID's "rank insubordination" shortly after proclaiming himself head of the embattled agency.

In a brief note posted on the international development agency's website, almost all employees were told they would be put on leave. The note ended with the words, "Thank you for your service."

"We are being tasked to assist the department in recalling USAID employees to the United States by Saturday," State Department official Seth Green wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.