Trump won’t wait for Senate confirmations to shake up State Department: source
President-elect Donald Trump is wasting no time in shaking up the State Department as he prepares to take office. A source familiar with the situation has revealed that the new Trump administration plans to move new officials into key operational roles at the State Department immediately. This move is aimed at ensuring that the department aligns with Trump’s foreign policy agenda right from the start.
Typically, career State Department officials oversee these key positions while political appointees await Senate confirmation. However, the Trump team is bringing in dozens of “senior bureau officials” to supervise these roles and ensure that career employees have officials who support Trump’s vision. The transition team has already identified the senior bureau officials who will be taking over, impacting more than 20 key positions at the State Department.
Reuters reported last week that about 30 senior positions at the State Department have been affected by this initiative, including undersecretaries overseeing key regional, policy, and communications bureaus. Trump’s transition team has reportedly asked three senior career diplomats to step down from their roles, signaling a significant shift in leadership within the department.
The career diplomats asked to resign, Dereck Hogan, Marcia Bernicat, and Alaina Teplitz, oversee the State Department’s workforce and internal coordination. These diplomats have served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, underscoring the non-partisan nature of their roles. Unlike political appointees, diplomats typically do not resign when a new president takes office.
Throughout his political career, Trump has been critical of the State Department, often referring to it as the “Deep State Department.” He has consistently expressed a desire to overhaul the government agency responsible for foreign relations, believing that career diplomats have worked against his agenda. This move to bring in new officials aligns with Trump’s efforts to reshape the government bureaucracy.
Trump is expected to work closely with his Secretary of State nominee, Marco Rubio, to implement his “America first” agenda. Rubio has emphasized the need to redefine the State Department’s core mission and make the agency more relevant in today’s federal bureaucracy. He has pledged to ensure that State employees work towards Trump’s agenda and play a more significant role in decision-making processes.
Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has also expressed a desire to root out individuals at the State Department who have directed funding towards what he calls “woke” programs. He believes that resources should be focused on initiatives that align with U.S. national security interests rather than supporting radical agendas.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the State Department is poised for significant changes in leadership and direction. With new officials set to assume key roles, the department will likely undergo a transformation to better align with Trump’s foreign policy priorities. The transition team’s focus on ensuring that the State Department reflects Trump’s vision underscores the administration’s commitment to implementing its agenda from day one.
