{"id":5592,"date":"2025-09-22T00:47:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592"},"modified":"2025-09-22T00:48:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:48:04","slug":"trump-is-breaking-us-diplomacy-state-department-staffers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592","title":{"rendered":"Trump is breaking US diplomacy, State Department staffers say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than 60 ambassadorships don\u2019t even have a nominee, while diplomats are told they\u2019re being evaluated on their \u201cfidelity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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President Donald Trump promised to reform American diplomacy. Insiders say he\u2019s breaking it instead, to the point where he\u2019s undermining his own global influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight months into Trump\u2019s second term, more than half of U.S. ambassadorships, an unusually high amount, are vacant. Most top State Department roles are filled on an acting basis, often by people with little relevant experience. Many U.S. diplomats, especially those overseas, are largely cut out of policy talks while struggling to implement administration orders they say are confusing. Many also are too afraid to speak up because they could be fired or lose a promotion under new rules that measure their \u201cfidelity.\u201d They\u2019ve already seen thousands of their colleagues pushed out and many offices dismantled.

POLITICO spoke to a dozen State Department officials, former diplomats and other U.S. officials with insight into the department, granting nearly all anonymity because of concerns they could be fired for speaking publicly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overall impact of the changes remains unclear. But many diplomats said they feel both powerless and resigned to the circumstances. There\u2019s a sense that if Trump\u2019s political appointees don\u2019t want diplomats\u2019 advice, then fine \u2014 those appointees will have to deal with the legal and logistical fallout of whatever plan they order diplomats to carry out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Trump\u2019s first administration, people would say, \u2018This isn\u2019t right \u2014 we need to tell the White House.\u2019 There\u2019s none of that this time,\u201d one of the State Department officials said. \u201cWhy would I do that? This administration isn\u2019t interested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The officials and diplomats interviewed said the Trump administration is reshaping the Foreign Service into a smaller, weaker force in international relations, one whose diplomats are mere implementers instead of originators of policy ideas. This is happening despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio\u2019s stated plans to make his department more central<\/a> to foreign policymaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tommy Pigott, a department spokesperson, defended the changes Rubio has made, saying the secretary has \u201creorganized the entire State Department to ensure those on the front lines \u2014 the regional bureaus and the embassies \u2014 are in a position to impact policies.\u201d He added, however: \u201cWhat we will not tolerate is people using their positions to actively undermine the duly elected president\u2019s objectives.\u201d

The department continues to function, though with new priorities. Those include a more restrictive approach to immigration; less emphasis on human rights, humanitarian aid and promoting democracy; and more attention to touting U.S. businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. diplomats have mixed feelings about these priorities, though many worry that the administration is alienating U.S. allies with its tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a pervasive sense of fear at many posts. Much of it revolves around diplomats\u2019 ability to communicate and voice dissent \u2014 even on basic policy disagreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLoyalty to decisions has always been a fundamental requirement for America\u2019s foreign service, but if speaking honestly internally is suppressed, the administration will stumble blindly into avoidable dangers,\u201d said Ronald Neumann, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an August note to its members, the American Foreign Service Association \u2014 a union Trump has moved to strip of its bargaining rights<\/a> \u2014 highlighted such concerns bluntly. The note, which NBC News previously reported, said AFSA has been made aware of instances \u201cwhere Foreign Service officers are being curtailed from their assignments after providing less-than-positive analysis or unwelcome recommendations to leadership.\u201d The note did not detail the incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are operating in uncharted territory,\u201d the group wrote, urging members to obtain professional liability insurance and \u201cbe mindful that interpersonal interactions, especially with new acquaintances, can be recorded and shared.\u201d

At one embassy, top officials have ordered the rank-and-file to discuss \u201canything remotely sensitive face-to-face,\u201d one diplomat said. That comes amid chatter by staff that the State Department may have installed keystroke spyware<\/a> to monitor embassy employees\u2019 electronic communications, the diplomat said. Pigott, the State Department spokesperson, called the spyware allegation \u201cflat out false.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department has long had a \u201cdissent<\/a> channel\u201d in which diplomats could send a memo, usually classified, to the secretary of State, voicing disagreements with policy decisions. It\u2019s unclear how active that channel is now, but several diplomats said they would not feel comfortable using it, even though people who do so are supposed to be legally protected from reprisal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio\u2019s decision to consider whether a diplomat shows \u201cfidelity\u201d to administration objectives<\/a> as a factor in promotions is also fueling consternation. Many diplomats stress that their job already requires them to implement the policies of the administration in charge, and that if they don\u2019t feel they can do so in good conscience, they need to resign. But they privately deride the \u201cfidelity\u201d concept as a loyalty test that is meant to scare them in ways that will stifle creative ideas and lead to bad policymaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the people interviewed stressed that each diplomat\u2019s situation varies depending on their position, their location and the administration\u2019s priorities. Those in Israel are likely getting more guidance than those in the Pacific islands. Many also acknowledged that the State Department has long been bigfooted on policymaking by other entities, such as the National Security Council and the Defense Department, in administrations past.

But there are new concerns with this administration. Diplomats fear, for example, the impact outside players have on Rubio. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer appeared to have<\/a> successfully pushed Rubio to suspend issuing visas for Palestinians from Gaza. She has demanded Rubio fire some diplomats<\/a> who are Muslim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. diplomats also say communication from department headquarters to posts abroad is far more limited than it should be, especially given the massive changes to U.S. policy on everything from tariffs to democracy promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a sharp decline in transparency,\u201d a second State Department official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means U.S. diplomats are often surprised by the administration\u2019s decisions and told to implement policies despite having questions about details, logistics and legalities. It can paralyze work on administration priorities, they say, and make it harder for diplomats to confidently talk to their foreign counterparts about a decision\u2019s implications \u2014 a key part of their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Aug. 7 Trump executive order<\/a> laying out new rules on grant-giving, for example, left many State Department officials confused, with different bureaus offering different guidance on how to implement it in their regions, a second U.S. diplomat said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople are spending an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out what things mean,\u201d the diplomat said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration\u2019s approach is not entirely surprising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubio, who also serves as acting national security adviser, has\u00a0significantly cut what was once a complicated policymaking process<\/a>\u00a0that took into account the views of many departments. Now, a small group of people \u2014 mainly at the White House \u2014 talk to the president and come up with policies based on what he wants, then order the rest of the government to implement them. The idea is to reduce leaks to the media, end bureaucratic slow-rolling and achieve major changes that normally would hit roadblocks.

Trump and his top aides also have long harbored suspicion of the State Department in particular, believing it is a liberal stronghold<\/a> opposed to the president\u2019s agenda. Early in his second term, Trump issued an executive order aimed at reshaping the Foreign Service in ways he said would better reflect his America First priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To implement that order, Rubio and a handful of his deputies have taken an array of steps, from redesigning the entry exam for the Foreign Service to pushing out thousands of staffers<\/a>, especially those who dealt with topics such as human rights and promoting democracy. Numerous offices have been cut or shrunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, many top roles at the State Department, such as undersecretaries or assistant secretaries, haven\u2019t been filled on a permanent basis. Many major divisions are being run by \u201csenior bureau officials\u201d on an acting basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a political appointee is not available, some low-ranking career diplomats viewed as sympathetic to Trump\u2019s ideas have been placed temporarily into top State Department ranks, even if they lack the typical qualifications<\/a> for the post, according to many of the officials. This is particularly galling to career diplomats because the Foreign Service is organized like the military, and rising through the ranks isn\u2019t easy. To some in the field, it\u2019s as if generals are now reporting to corporals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions about qualifications are especially rampant in the Middle East bureau, one of the most challenging divisions in which to serve due to ongoing strife and political tension that have long received outsized U.S. attention. Multiple people complained that the senior bureau official \u2014 political appointee Mora Namdar \u2014 has elevated employees she views as more loyal above more experienced, higher-ranking diplomats.

The Washington Post previously reported on frustrations with Namdar, who did not immediately respond to POLITICO\u2019s request for comment. Pigott defended Namdar and the choices made for key roles, saying the department \u201cis elevating personnel who have proven that they have the merit, expertise and experience to best implement President Trump\u2019s agenda and advance our national interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The frustrations come amid rising concerns about the unusually large number of vacant ambassador positions. According to the American Foreign Service Association\u2019s ambassador tracker<\/a>, 110 of 195 ambassador roles are currently vacant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of this is to due Senate slowness in confirmations, including because of holds placed by Democrats. But the administration also has failed to nominate candidates for more than 60 of the positions, according to AFSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lacking a Senate-confirmed ambassador can undermine America\u2019s ability to communicate its foreign policy abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one thing, diplomatic protocol in some countries means top leaders are less likely to meet with temporary envoys. Acting ambassadors, who often come from the Foreign Service ranks, also tend to have less access in Washington to the president or even the secretary to seek guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday evening, lawmakers approved a handful of ambassadorial nominees. A Trump administration official familiar with the situation said the faster ambassadors can reach their posts, the better the State Department\u2019s leaders can communicate with diplomats overseas. The official was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Many who enter the Foreign Service hope to make it their lifelong career, knowing from the start that usually involves rotating positions, and locations, every few years. Now these say they worry about what future roles to apply for, more so if their specialty is a low priority for the Trump team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also worries that the administration will eventually close some consulates and embassies and these diplomats will happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, as some were during a round of layoffs earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But some said the one place they did not want to be was Washington, where most staff cuts so far have been concentrated and where the workplace tension is harder to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy put yourself in that situation?\u201d the first diplomat asked.

Reposted from Politics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than 60 ambassadorships don\u2019t even have a nominee, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5593,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[4926,4928,1891],"class_list":["post-5592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usa","tag-breaking","tag-diplomacy","tag-trump"],"yoast_head":"\nTrump is breaking US diplomacy, State Department staffers say - abovecloud<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump is breaking US diplomacy, State Department staffers say - abovecloud\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"More than 60 ambassadorships don\u2019t even have a nominee, […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"abovecloud\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-22T07:47:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-22T07:48:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-18-1024x683.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"\u4f5c\u8005\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"CrapeMyrtle888\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"\u9884\u8ba1\u9605\u8bfb\u65f6\u95f4\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 \u5206\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/\",\"name\":\"abovecloud\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"zh-Hans\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-Hans\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-18.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-18.png\",\"width\":1452,\"height\":968},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/abovecloud.xyz\/?p=5592\",\"name\":\"Trump is breaking US diplomacy, State Department staffers say - 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