According to the New York Times, a draft executive order from the Trump administration proposes a major overhaul of the U.S. State Department, potentially closing diplomatic missions and cutting personnel. The proposal includes eliminating nearly all African operations, shutting down bureaus focused on climate change, democracy, human rights, and refugee issues, and reducing staff.
The draft executive order, which the NY Times and CNBC have reported to be in possession of but have not released, calls for the closure of embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa by October 1, replacing the Bureau of African Affairs with a smaller office focused on counterterrorism and resource trade. It also suggests consolidating Canada operations under a new North American affairs office and scaling down the U.S. embassy in Ottawa.
Several bureaus would be dismantled, including those for democracy and human rights, refugees and migration, and public diplomacy. The special envoy position for climate would also be cut as the department shifts focus to transnational threats like counternarcotics.
The draft executive order, which has not been released at the time of reporting, also calls for restructuring the Foreign Service, transitioning from a generalist model to a specialized, regionally focused one. This includes hiring practices aligned with the president’s foreign policy vision and eliminating the foreign service exam. Buyouts would be offered to foreign service and civil service officers, and reliance on international institutions like Fulbright would decrease.
Although the document has circulated among diplomats, the stage of its development is unclear. In a post on X on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the draft as “fake news” but did not confirm or deny his involvement. The State Department and the White House National Security Council have declined to comment.
If the changes proceed, they are expected to face significant opposition in Congress and may lead to lawsuits. The draft executive order also includes a substantial budget reduction for the department, part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies. Critics argue that the cuts could undermine U.S. diplomatic capabilities and influence.
