The circulated draft order among diplomats stationed overseas proposes the elimination of entire offices responsible for climate policy, refugee coordination, international organizations, global women’s issues, and the promotion of democracy.
The Trump administration is distributing a draft executive order that aims to significantly reduce the US State Department’s capabilities, dismantle key diplomatic divisions, and close missions in various regions, including Africa and Canada.
If enacted, this proposal would represent the most extensive restructuring of the State Department since its establishment in 1789, drastically reducing America’s diplomatic presence and indicating a further withdrawal from the multilateral framework that the United States played a pivotal role in creating during the 20th century, as reported by Bloomberg, which obtained a copy of the 16-page document.
The draft order, which is already being shared among diplomats stationed overseas, proposes the elimination of entire bureaus responsible for climate policy, refugee coordination, international organizations, global women’s issues, and the promotion of democracy. Notably, the Bureau of African Affairs and the office that interacts with the United Nations are among those targeted for closure.
The document outlines a swift timeline for implementation, with changes expected to take effect by October 1.
In a surprising development for foreign policy analysts, the proposal suggests a significant downgrade in diplomatic relations with Canada. Oversight would shift to a “significantly reduced team” within a newly established North American Affairs Office that would report directly to the Secretary of State. Consequently, the US embassy in Ottawa would experience a considerable reduction in personnel.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, a number of embassies and consulates deemed “non-essential” would be completely closed. The plan aims to consolidate the existing structure into four main regional bureaus—Indo-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eurasia—streamlining what officials have described as an “overly diffuse and inconsistent” network of international operations.
Foreign service officers will now be assigned to specific regions for the entirety of their careers, marking a departure from the conventional practice of global rotations. Those who do not wish to participate in this new regional framework have until September 30 to choose a buyout option.
Changes to Fulbright and DEI programs
The reform extends well beyond personnel adjustments. The Fulbright Program, one of the United States’ most esteemed tools of soft power, will be restructured into a narrowly focused scholarship initiative for master’s-level students specializing in national security studies. Emphasis will be placed on critical languages such as Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Farsi.
Additionally, fellowships at Howard University, a historically Black institution in Washington, will be discontinued as part of a broader initiative to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within the State Department.
The directive also details the final steps in the dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with its functions being integrated into a newly established Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs. It stipulates that no mission may proceed without “explicit written approval from the President of the United States.”
Loyalty assessment for future diplomats
According to the draft, a new foreign service examination will be implemented to ensure that aspiring diplomats are “aligned with the President’s foreign policy vision,” representing a significant politicization of the traditionally non-partisan diplomatic service.
At present, the State Department’s global workforce comprises over 13,000 Foreign Service officers, 11,000 Civil Service employees, and more than 45,000 locally hired staff. With over 270 U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide, the proposed reductions would signify a profound transformation in how Washington interacts with the international community.
