Trump Administration Unveils Plan for Major Overhaul of State Department

A draft executive order from the White House outlines a sweeping overhaul of the State Department, proposing the elimination of nearly all operations in Africa and the closure of multiple embassies and consulates across the continent. This restructuring initiative, which could receive President Trump’s signature as early as this week, aims to implement what officials describe as a “disciplined reorganization” to streamline operations and reduce “waste, fraud, and abuse.” The 16-page draft, obtained by The New York Times, sets a deadline for these changes by October 1.

If enacted, the order would lead to significant layoffs affecting both career diplomats, known as foreign service officers, and civil service employees based at the department’s Washington headquarters. Sources familiar with the plans indicate that the department would initiate paid leave for a substantial number of employees and begin issuing termination notices. Notably, the draft order proposes the abolition of the foreign service exam for prospective diplomats and introduces new hiring criteria that emphasize alignment with the president’s foreign policy agenda.

Additionally, the draft emphasizes a significant increase in the use of artificial intelligence to assist with document drafting, policy development, review, and operational planning. While the proposed changes are still subject to modification prior to the president’s signing, the State Department and the White House National Security Council had not provided immediate comments on the order as of early Sunday.

A key aspect of the reorganization involves the dissolution of regional bureaus responsible for shaping and implementing policy across various global regions. Instead, the draft outlines the establishment of four new “corps”: the Eurasia Corps, overseeing Europe, Russia, and Central Asia; the Mid-East Corps, focusing on Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; the Latin America Corps, covering Central and South America as well as the Caribbean; and the Indo-Pacific Corps, which will encompass East Asia, Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Among the most significant changes proposed is the elimination of the Bureau of African Affairs, which manages U.S. policy in sub-Saharan Africa.