A draft executive order acquired by CNBC lays out what the Trump administration terms a “disciplined reorganization” of the nation’s diplomatic service, suggesting that the U.S. State Department might soon undergo significant changes.
The 16-page, as-yet-undated, but seemingly ready-for-sign presidential order would radically reorganize the department if it were to become law. It would dispose of American embassies in Southern Africa and abolish bureaus that deal with human rights, democracy, and international organizations like the UN.
The directive also specifies changes to how American ambassadors are chosen and trained.
“Streamline mission delivery, project American strength abroad, cut waste, fraud, abuse and align the Department with an American First Strategic Doctrine reflecting the priorities of the Executive Branch.” That’s what the order says, and it’s supposed to bring about some changes.
All “non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa” would be abolished and regional offices would be consolidated according to the proposed executive order.
According to the directive, four “regional corps” would replace the existing regional bureaus:
Eurasia, including Europe, Russia and Central Asia; Mid-East, including Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan; Latin America, including Central America, South America and the Caribbean; and Indo-Pacific, including East and Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.According to the directive, the United States’ diplomatic presence in Canada will be significantly reduced. “The North American Affairs Office” under Secretary Marco Rubio’s office will be responsible for overseeing State Department operations in Canada moving forward.
Upon CNBC’s request for comment about the draft directive, the White House did not promptly react.
The document was initially reported on by The New York Times. “This is fake news,” Rubio commented on X in reaction to the story.
Climate, women’s concerns, democracy, human rights, migration, and criminal justice offices and roles are also called for to be terminated in the draft order.
The decree would drastically alter the department’s employment procedures and also lead to the merger of embassies and consulates.
A new system that takes into account applicants’ “alignment with the president’s foreign policy vision” would replace the lengthy Foreign Service Officer Test.
By October 1st, according to the draft directive, the “full structural reorganization and transition” must be finished.
Additionally, it states that until September 30th, any civil servants or foreign service officers who are not interested in participating in the new regional organizational structure or “serving the interests of the administration may elect to voluntarily separate from the department through a one-time buyout and transition program.”
