The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of the U.S. State Department, according to a leaked 16-page draft executive order circulating among diplomats. The document outlines plans to reduce the department’s global presence and restructure its internal organisation.
The draft calls for closing numerous embassies and consulates across Sub-Saharan Africa, shutting all “non-essential” missions by October 1, 2025. The Bureau of African Affairs would be disbanded and replaced by a Special Envoy reporting directly to the National Security Council, marking a shift of oversight from the State Department to the White House. In Canada, diplomatic operations would be drastically scaled back to a small North American Affairs Office under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s supervision.
Several thematic bureaus, including those focused on climate change, human rights, democracy promotion, migration, and international organisations like the United Nations, are slated for elimination. The draft proposes consolidating regional bureaus into four regional corps: Eurasia, Middle East, Latin America, and Indo-Pacific, which aims to streamline diplomatic efforts but raise concerns about loss of specialised expertise.
A major change would scrap the long-standing Foreign Service Officer Test, replacing it with an evaluation partly based on candidates’ “alignment with the president’s foreign policy vision” and other subjective criteria. Hiring decisions would require White House approval. Current staff would be offered a voluntary buyout programme to leave by September 30, 2025 if unwilling to serve under the new structure.
The draft has caused widespread unease among diplomats. Critics warn it could weaken America’s diplomatic capabilities and politicise a traditionally non-partisan service. Secretary Rubio dismissed the reports as “fake news,” though officials confirmed the draft’s circulation internally.
If implemented, the changes would represent the most notable restructuring of the State Department since its founding—a shift away from multilateral diplomacy towards a more centralised, ideologically driven approach. The administration is also reportedly considering nearly halving the department’s budget, raising further concerns about the future of U.S. diplomacy.
The draft order is expected to be announced soon, though internal opposition may lead to modifications before any final rollout.