The US government has announced plans to overhaul its Foreign Service operations by abolishing over 100 bureaus and offices, as part of a broader effort to streamline the State Department and bring it into the 21st century.
The Trump administration‘s ‘America First’ mandate has led to a significant overhaul of the US State Department. As part of this effort, the department is set to reduce its staff by 15% and close or consolidate more than 100 offices and bureaus worldwide.
According to an internal memo, the plan would eliminate 132 of the State Department’s 734 bureaus and offices. A further 137 offices will be transitioned to another location within the department to ‘increase efficiency.’ The goal is to bring the Department into the 21st Century by empowering it from the ground up.
Some of the bureaus that are expected to be cut include the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The department’s diversity and inclusion efforts, which have been cut government-wide since President Donald Trump took office in January, are also expected to be closed. On the other hand, a ‘reimagined’ office with a focus on foreign and humanitarian affairs will coordinate the remaining foreign assistance programs left at the State Department.
Foreign and humanitarian affairs have a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations.
The concept of diplomacy emerged as early as the 5th century BC in Greece, with city-states engaging in formal negotiations to resolve conflicts.
In modern times, foreign policy has become increasingly complex, involving international organizations, treaties, and global governance.
According to the United Nations, there are over 100 international agreements aimed at promoting peace, security, and human rights worldwide.
The recent dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has significant implications for world’s poorest people. The new plan aims to remove offices and programs not aligned with the US’s core national interests under the Trump administration.
Both Rubio and officials have said that the ‘bloated’ structure of the State Department made it impossible to quickly and efficiently make decisions. The intention of the new plan is to empower regional bureaus to increase functionality and remove offices and programs not aligned with the US’s core national interests.
The Trump administration’s ‘America First’ mandate has led to a significant overhaul of the US State Department. 132 out of 734 bureaus and offices will be eliminated, while 137 will be transitioned to another location within the department. Offices like the Office of Global Women’s Issues are at risk due to the cuts. The new plan aims to bring the Department into the 21st Century by empowering it from the ground up.
