Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a reorganization plan for the State Department on Tuesday. The head of American diplomacy intends to get free of offices that were liable for diversity policy. Global Women’s Issues and Diversity and Inclusion Office are among the divisions that will be liquidated.
In a brief message by Rubio on the State Department website, you can read about the reorganization aimed at creating the "America First State Department".
"Unnecessary offices will be removed and extra-statutory programmes that are incompatible with America's primary national interests will cease to exist," Rubio said. He added that the reorganisation would reverse "ten years of growth and bureaucracy".
The Global Women’s Issues Office has been utilized for years to integrate issues concerning progressive “women’s and girls’ rights” into American abroad policy. In a 2013 statement, then Secretary of State John Kerry noted: “No country can grow if it leaves half its citizens behind. That is why the United States believes that sex equality is crucial to our common goals of prosperity, stableness and peace, and investing in women and girls around the planet is crucial for American abroad policy."
The Office for Diversity and Integration in the State Department was liable for recruiting candidates from various cultural backgrounds to strengthen the American diplomatic mission. In a message of 2024, erstwhile Secretary of State Antony Blinken argued that respect for diversity policy is necessary, "because recruiting, nurturing and promoting the most capable labour force possible is crucial to our national security."
The current Secretary of State notes that the State Department "is bloated, bureaucratic and incapable to carry out its essential diplomatic mission in this fresh era of rivalry of large powers."
The department has grown importantly over the last 15 years. The cost of his operation has increased. This did not translate into more effective and efficient diplomacy. Moreover, "the increasing bureaucracy has created a strategy more committed to extremist political ideology than to advance the fundamental national interests of America".
The reorganization proposed by Secretary Rubio is to introduce the State Department in the 21st century. He's expected to strengthen him from scratch, from offices to embassies. Regional-specific functions will be consolidated and unnecessary offices removed.
According to a detailed reorganisation plan, about 2,000 workers (reduction of 15% of staff) are expected to be released and 132 offices are closed abroad. The number of departments will be reduced from the current 734 to 602 and another 137 offices will be consolidated within the department or completely liquidated. The further plan is to lay off another 700 staff at the Foggy Bottom department headquarters.
Rubio complained about “the overlapping mandates combined with conflicting responsibilities that created an environment conducive to ideological takeover and senseless wars for influence.” He explained that the State Department, through its offices, wasted millions of dollars on grants to non-governmental organizations “which facilitated mass migration worldwide”, de facto introduced Israel’s “arm embargo” and financed opposition campaigns of parties against “anti-woke leaders” in countries specified as Poland, Hungary and Brazil.”
The president of the abroad Affairs Committee of the home of Representatives Brian Mast (R-Fla.) praised the actions of the head of American diplomacy. "War and diplomacy in the 21st century changes all day. However, growth and bureaucracy prevent the State Department from responding to these changes, This reorganisation will make the State Department slimmer and more ruthless, and all dollar and diplomat will put America first.” Mast wrote in a statement.
Sources: state.gov / nypost.com
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