Trump’s Chaotic State Department Cuts Endanger U.S. National Security

Last month, the US State Department carried out its largest cases in one day-more than 1,300 employees who went overnight in a comprehensive defeat. The diplomats, consular officers and foreign affairs specialists woke up one morning ready to serve and found themselves detained from their emails by the end of the day. The Trump administration said the chapter was part of a “comprehensive reorganization plan.” But those familiar with the institution and its mission know that the movements of the White House are a serious mistake.

In a conversation Foreign policy The column writer Matthew Kronig argued that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discounts were a smart and long simplification process that would make the section more focused, flexible and strategically related. After 37 years of US external service and now as president of the US State Department of Service (AFSA), I can categorically mention that reality looks completely different.

Last month, the US State Department carried out its largest cases in one day-more than 1,300 employees who went overnight in a comprehensive defeat. The diplomats, consular officers and foreign affairs specialists woke up one morning ready to serve and found themselves detained from their emails by the end of the day. The Trump administration said the chapter was part of a “comprehensive reorganization plan.” But those familiar with the institution and its mission know that the movements of the White House are a serious mistake.

In a conversation Foreign policy The column writer Matthew Kronig argued that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discounts were a smart and long simplification process that would make the section more focused, flexible and strategically related. After 37 years of US external service and now as president of the US State Department of Service (AFSA), I can categorically mention that reality looks completely different.

AFSA is a professional and union association that represents members of foreign service from six external agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While AFSA has worked long ago productively with both the republican and democratic departments, it has never tested this complete ignorance of the experience and perspective of those who know the American diplomatic workforce better.

There is a wide consensus in the foreign affairs community that operating procedures need to be repaired – if only to simplify the bad clearance process or clarify the division of supervision between regional and job offices. But the Trump administration’s chaos for the topic experts who can make such changes more effectively is a major example of mismanagement in its worst.

AFSA has seen that previous departments implement good reforms – which are other departments that made the department not intelligent and better. This was characterized by careful planning, widespread consultation and focusing on enhancing the ability of diplomats to serve the American people. For example, in 1999, after a precise review, the Clinton administration has strengthened the US Information Agency and the Arms Control and Disarination Agency at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the minimum disorder. The leadership made a great notice to all the parties concerned, requested (received) inputs from them, and obtained a participation to ensure a smooth transition to critical functions.

This last round of reforms did not have any of these qualities. It was fast, messy, and more than that of newspaper headlines than making the section stronger. The Trump administration’s diplomatic stop was not disturbed by the fog-the United States has left weaker, less respectful and less safe.

Kroung’s photography of Washington’s enlarged bureaucracy miss the mark. The growth of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past two decades – led by both political parties – was commensurate with the increasing threats of American national security and are directly related to national priorities: opening embassies to confront China, employ more consular officers to meet the record demand for passports and visas, and add experts in the field of cybersecurity and budget.

Cronege properly noticed that American diplomats were a “pointed spear” end of US foreign policy. But experts in Washington are the ones who aim to spear by analyzing intelligence, evaluating American priorities and directing government resources. In one of the suburbs, the administration leadership undermined its ability to do so.

The misguide Kroong claim that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not cut any officers in the external service abroad. I have heard from the non -seized officers who participated in the stories that contradict this narration.

One of the officers in Türkiye was running a decisive visa operation that served the applicants from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. On July 11, they were cut from their phones and e -mail with no plane ticket. This office now does not have a dedicated manager. Another officer was appointed to lead the American embassy in Tonga as the D’Aaires – a strategic important function in the Pacific Ocean. They had travel and ticket orders on hand. But on July 11, they were out of work, leaving the embassy in Tongo without leadership at a time when China expanded its influence in the region.

Türkiye and Tonga are not isolated cases. Throughout the world, the main jobs and offices were left from Senegal to China without driving in the same sudden and destructive way. Even the American embassy in Kyiv – one of the highest priority posts – has not been delayed by discounts.

Kronig reduced the 1350 -Foreign Ministry’s demobilization operations from 80,000 organization. But this number includes more than 50,000 employees who have been locally appointed abroad, who represent American tasks but are not part of Washington’s policy that is based in Washington. (None of the employees appointed locally abroad were part of the demobilization of workers on July 11, according to AFSA lists) This does more than just fat trim – it cuts muscles and bones. Getting rid of employees in this way is the difference between the department that can still work and cannot.

Moreover, the Trump administration repair process was not deliberate. Unlike the Kroenig account, the administration was “working for several months to get reorganization.” A survey of approximately 200 AFSA members who lost their jobs on July 11 revealed that they were expelled even after the administration, in its official notification of reorganization to congress, stating that there will be no “major changes” to its offices. Foreign Ministry officials said that the suggestions were “requested” throughout the agency, but the lack of transparency in the decision -making process makes us believe that all the main options have been made by a small circle of the informed who have a few or non -existent experience in foreign affairs or the complex department management.

Under the previous departments, any layoffs in the possible external service had a clear operation based on merit that classified the world’s employees as performance, possession, the ability of the foreign language and the veteran military situation, then difficult calls were made. However, just three days before workers’ demobilization on July 11, the Trump administration canceled those standards. The only thing that matters was the place where an employee was appointed on May 29, which directly contradicts the testimony of Michael Regas, Deputy Foreign Minister of Administration and Resources, to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The result was expected: angels who had critical language skills-including Russian, Arab and Chinese warriors-suffer from disabilities, and people who were already appointed to share high-end difficulties have been shown the door without considering their service or experience. Imagine closing a military base and shooting at every soldier stationed there, regardless of classification, registration or suspended tasks.

There is still time to avoid long -term damage to the US diplomatic authority, but only if the Foreign Ministry leadership realizes its mistakes and changes them now. Since the demobilization of the collective workers, the administration has reflected dozens of its decisions, and called on some employees to return to their duties. This is a step in the right direction, but driving needs to move forward. If they really believe that the administration is exaggerated, they must return to the pre -agreed reduction rules in the force that has been in effect for decades, and the exaggerated fields clarify, and move forward in their reorganization plan accordingly.

The opponents of the United States are watching this self -wound. The question is whether the country has a will to stop it before it causes permanent damage.

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