What Happened
A draft executive order obtained by multiple media outlets reveals that the Trump administration is preparing a dramatic reorganization of the U.S. State Department. Though not yet signed, the order has reportedly been circulated among senior officials and is part of a broader policy initiative.
Key elements of the draft include:
Consolidating the State Department into four “mega-bureaus” (Indo-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Eurasia)
Eliminating the Bureau of African Affairs and closing many embassies and consulates, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa
Requiring ideological loyalty from Foreign Service officers, including vetting their alignment with the president’s foreign policy
Dismantling offices focused on human rights, climate change, and refugee policy
Reducing the U.S. diplomatic presence in allied nations, including Canada and parts of Europe
Though the department publicly denied the authenticity of the leaked draft, internal sources and external reporting confirm that similar reorganization plans are under serious consideration.
Why It Matters
This draft order reflects an intent to rebuild the State Department into a loyalty-based, executive-aligned foreign policy arm, at the expense of regional balance, institutional continuity, and issue-based diplomacy.
By removing regional and issue-specific expertise and demanding personal ideological alignment, the order would undermine the nonpartisan nature of the U.S. Foreign Service and dramatically reduce the U.S. presence in key global areas — especially Africa.
Eliminating climate, refugee, and human rights offices signals a broader retreat from global norms and international human rights commitments.
How It Contributes to the Drift
While not yet enacted, this draft fits a clear escalating pattern of institutional erosion under the current administration:
Like the CFPB purge and the R/FIMI disinformation office shutdown, this plan represents an intentional effort to restructure or eliminate entire government functions that provide oversight, balance, or expertise.
It invokes Schedule F-style loyalty enforcement, using ideological litmus tests to determine who may serve in government — a hallmark of authoritarian statecraft.
It reflects a turn toward centralization of foreign policy authority, reduction of dissent, and dismantling of norms-based diplomacy in favor of executive-aligned messaging and relationships.
Even in draft form, the policy has already begun reshaping internal power dynamics and instilling fear within career diplomats, many of whom are reportedly considering early retirement or reassignment.