A troubling draft executive order, allegedly written and waiting for President Donald Trump’s signature, would do just that—shaking up the U.S. State Department to its core. This ambitious plan will improve service efficiency and save millions. More importantly, it aims to sync the department’s developmental, diplomatic, and humanitarian functions with the president’s competitive foreign policy vision. If made permanent, this order would result in a historic shift in how U.S. diplomatic missions operate globally.
The proposed reorganization would eliminate 66% of one of the small staff operating in the North American Affairs Office. This office will now be operating under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This office oversees State Department activities in Canada. This strategic pivot marks a significant departure from the historic patterns of North American diplomacy.
In a stunning example of the draft order’s reach, it proposes closing every non-essential embassy and consulate in Sub-Saharan Africa. This tragic decision will close American diplomatic missions throughout Southern Africa. When considered as a whole, it raises grave concerns about the future of U.S. engagement in the region. The plan envisions folding its current regional bureaus into four separate “regional corps” in hopes of improving efficiency and effectiveness.
The draft order sets a deadline for the “full structural reorganization and transition” of the State Department to be completed by October 1. Alongside these structural changes, it calls for an overhaul of the processes and practices for selecting and training—indeed, the very processes of select and train—U.S. diplomats.
- Eurasia, covering Europe, Russia, and Central Asia;
- Mid-East, encompassing Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan;
- Latin America, integrating Central America, South America, and the Caribbean;
- Indo-Pacific, focusing on East and Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
The draft emphasizes a vision to “streamline mission delivery, project American strength abroad, cut waste, fraud, [and] abuse,” while aligning with an “American First Strategic Doctrine reflecting the priorities of the Executive Branch.”
It discusses plans to cut and/or abolish 16 other bureaus touching on key issues including support for democracy and human rights. It seeks to limit U.S. engagement with international bodies like the United Nations. Such cuts would be shortsighted, having profound and long-lasting effects on U.S. foreign policy and humanitarian efforts around the globe.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment about the draft order. If adopted, these reforms would represent one of the boldest changes to the strategy of American diplomacy in decades.
The White House did not respond immediately to CNBC’s request for comment regarding the draft order. If implemented, these changes would signify one of the most significant shifts in U.S. diplomatic strategy in recent history.