As reported by the New York Times, an executive order draft from the Trump administration suggests a significant transformation in the U.S. State Department, which might involve shutting down diplomatic offices and reducing staff numbers. The plan indicates the removal of almost all operations in Africa, closing departments that deal with climate change, human rights, democracy, and refugee matters, and cutting down personnel.
The draft order, which the NY Times and CNBC claim to have but have not made public, proposes the termination of embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa by October 1. It aims to replace the Bureau of African Affairs with a smaller entity dedicated to counterterrorism and resource trading. The document also recommends merging Canadian operations into a new office for North American affairs and downsizing the U.S. embassy in Ottawa.
Several departments would be dismantled, such as those focused on human rights, democracy, migration, and public diplomacy. Additionally, the position of special envoy for climate issues would be eliminated as the department shifts attention to international threats like drug trafficking.
The unreleased draft order also suggests changes to the Foreign Service structure, moving from a generalist approach to a model that is more specialized and region-focused. This alteration would involve recruitment practices that align with the president’s foreign policy strategy and the removal of the foreign service exam. Offers for buyouts would be available to civil service and foreign service employees, and there would be less reliance on international programs like Fulbright.
While this document has been shared among diplomats, its current progress remains uncertain. On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the draft on X as “fake news,” but he neither confirmed nor denied his involvement. Neither the State Department nor the White House National Security Council has given any comments.
Should these changes go ahead, they are likely to meet considerable resistance in Congress and could result in legal challenges. The executive order draft also outlines a significant budget cut for the department, part of a continuous effort to make operations more efficient and cut down on waste. Critics warn that such reductions could weaken U.S. diplomacy and its global standing.
