Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, announced plans to rearrange the State Department, which he called “bloated,” vowing on Tuesday to reduce programs and shut offices but skipping short of a proposed executive order that would outline even more radical changes.
A new corporate map that may drop the company that oversees democracy and human rights was circulated by the top U.S. minister. Additionally, it would end all agencies tasked with promoting diversity and inclusion, global health security, and children’s issues.
Rubio’s strategy is in line with billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative, Department of Government Effectiveness, which recently centralized the functions of the State Department, State Department, and department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, told reporters.
In its present state, Rubio said,” The Department is bloated, administrative, and unable to carry out its crucial diplomatic mission in this novel era of great authority competition.” ” Over the past 15 years, the Department’s footprints has experienced unheard-of growth and rising costs. However, citizens have seen less effective and efficient diplomacy, way from seeing a return on investment.
Rubio claimed that the program will incorporate some region-specific features, close duplicate offices, and end some programs that are “misaligned with America’s key national interests.” He even criticized Donald Trump, the president’s personal spokesman, claiming that the department had” created a program that had become “beholden to extreme social ideology.”
The plan, which may also change, is “returning the State Department , to its standard base,” according to Bruce, the spokesperson.
After being confirmed, Rubio said the reform will be led by Michael Rigas, Trump’s candidate for assistant secretary of state for management and resources, in an email to the State Department, State Department, and staff that was seen by Bloomberg News.
The reform announced on Tuesday “focuses only on the Department’s regional offices and will not have an impact on any outside embassies, posts, or operations,” according to Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, in a following message to staff seen by , Bloomberg News. That didn’t seem to prevent future modifications of this nature.
Some officials who had feared yet more significant changes as outlined in a proposed executive order that recently surfaced in recent days may find Rubio’s request a pleasure. That plan would have cut diplomatic businesses in , Canada, and other places, as well as shut down embassies across , Africa, and closed the bureau that communicates with the , United Nations, and other organizations.
However, according to Eric Rubin, a retired job ambassador who likewise held the office of president of the State Department’s coalition and professional association, there may be more staffing cuts and changes at State than those that were made on Tuesday.
Rubin said,” This is by no means the package.”
Details were lacking in the public announcement, which merely stated that the changes may be implemented “methodically” in the coming months. However, Rubio’s X account was linked to a report in the Free Press  that claimed the State Department plans to close 132 offices, which is equivalent to 17 % of all departmental offices, including those dedicated to preventing war crimes and human rights.
According to the Free Press , the changes will result in the elimination of 700 positions, citing internal documents. According to the Free Press , undersecretaries are also being asked to cut their personnel by 15 %, and the department is transferring 137 offices to other agency branches to consolidate programs.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the , Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she welcomes reforms where necessary but that she would carefully examine them. She also urged Rubio to speak with Congress about the department’s potential.
According to Shaheen, Musk has engaged in a” slash-and-burn plan” targeting federal employees, terminating crucial applications at State and , USAID, undermining our friends, and eroded America’s authority in the world.
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