The government of US President Donald Trump has instructed embassies around the globe to prepare for the reduction of staff as part of a larger push to redefine American diplomacy, three sources informed Reuters on Thursday.
As per the sources, the embassies have been directed to review possible 10% cuts in both US and local employees. The State Department will then determine further action after each embassy submits a workforce review by Friday. Both American diplomats and local employees are hired by US embassies, with the majority of employees hailing from the host nation, according to the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
Moreover, some 60 contractors in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor have just been let go, with more reductions potentially coming in other departments. ABC News initially broke the news on embassy staff reduction plans, but the State Department has remained steadfastly silent.
These actions are part of Trump’s larger agenda to reshape the diplomatic service. On Wednesday, he signed an executive order instructing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to overhaul the foreign service, providing for “faithful and effective implementation” of his policies. The order, named “One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations”, says not following the president’s agenda may lead to professional discipline or termination.
Since assuming office on January 20, Trump has also suspended most US foreign assistance in the interest of matching expenditures with his “America First” agenda. USAID has been a top target in this reorganization, with billionaire and close ally of Trump, Elon Musk, heading the charge to review government agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The actions by the administration show an effort to rationalize government operations and purge staff considered to be disloyal to Trump’s vision of US foreign policy.
