Rubio Says Venezuela Will Submit Monthly Budget; Funds Held First in Qatari Account

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, that Venezuela’s interim government has agreed to submit a monthly "budget" to the Trump administration, which will release money from an account funded by the sale of Venezuelan oil and initially managed by Qatar.

Mr. Rubio said the proceeds, from oil subject to U.S. sanctions, would be held in an offshore account controlled by Qatar before eventual transfer to a U.S. Treasury account. He described the approach as a "short-term mechanism" to address a "fiscal crunch" and to fund police, sanitation workers and other basic government operations, saying the government had pledged to use a substantial amount of the funds to purchase medicine and equipment directly from the United States.

Testifying publicly for the first time since American forces captured Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, Mr. Rubio said the administration had established a "very respectful and productive line of communication" with Delcy Rodríguez and that it did "not intend or expect" to use military force; his written opening statement, which he did not deliver orally, warned the United States was "prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation" if other methods fail.

Democrats sharply questioned the plan’s legality and transparency and criticized Qatar’s role. Senator Brian Schatz said, "I think this is novel. I think it’s funky.

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