Trump Proposes Radical Reform of State Department: Key Cuts and Restructuring

• Trump proposes radical reform in the State Department
• Elimination of key offices and jobs
• Restructuring to streamline government operations

The Trump administration has proposed a drastic overhaul of the U.S. State Department, which would involve eliminating key offices and shifting the focus of policies on migration, refugees, and human rights.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the restructuring aims to eliminate offices «misaligned with the core national interests of the United States.»

One of the most significant cuts is the elimination of the Office of Global Criminal Justice, which oversees policies related to war crimes and genocide.

According to a State Department spokesperson, the proposal did not originate from Elon Musk or his Government Efficiency Department (Doge).

Major cuts and State Department reform

The reform would also eliminate about 130 of the department’s 732 domestic offices, cutting approximately 700 jobs as part of a «major restructuring» presented by Rubio.

Rubio defended the move by stating that the size and cost of the State Department «have ballooned» over the last 15 years.

«The problem isn’t a lack of money or talent, but an inefficient system that takes too long, costs too much, and often fails,» Rubio said on Tuesday.

Another targeted office is the one handling migration and refugee issues.

Although the draft proposal would not affect embassies and missions abroad, some functions from the eliminated offices would be transferred to remaining ones.

The changes to the State Department reflect a more conservative approach, aligned with the White House’s vision and that of Musk, who aims to reduce the size and spending of government.

Critics have rejected the State Department reform, calling it an attempt to eliminate the progressive agenda in favor of a more conservative approach.

Democratic Senate leader Jeanne Shaheen said she would review the reforms and criticized the lack of transparency in the process.

When asked about Doge’s involvement, spokesperson Tammy Bruce explained that Doge was not in charge, but the process was influenced by “what we’ve learned.”

The Trump administration has also proposed closing several diplomatic missions and drastically reducing the U.S. presence in Africa, including the elimination of the Bureau of African Affairs.

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The draft State Department reform also suggests cuts to oversight on issues such as democracy, human rights, and climate change, and proposes an internal restructuring of the diplomatic corps.

This change would be accompanied by measures to lay off both diplomats and civil service employees.

Additionally, the draft includes proposals to downsize personnel in Canada and restructure several offices handling international affairs.

The reform proposed by Donald Trump aims to shift the current diplomatic rotation model to a more specialized and regionalized system, optimizing staff experience.

The changes are expected to be implemented before October 1, although some aspects may face challenges in Congress.

This is just one of several internal documents circulating within the administration, which also include proposals to reduce the agency’s budget and cut more embassies and consulates.

The impact of this reform would be profound—not only on the State Department, but also on how the U.S. conducts its foreign policy and manages international relations.

SOURCE: BBC / El País