A draft executive order obtained by CNBC outlines sweeping reforms to the U.S. State Department under former President Donald Trump’s potential administration, signaling a dramatic shift in the structure, priorities, and global presence of America’s diplomatic corps.
The 16-page draft order, reportedly prepared for Trump’s signature, proposes eliminating all “non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa” and significantly downsizing the U.S. diplomatic footprint in countries like Canada. The plan also includes a complete reorganization of regional bureaus, consolidating them into four new “regional corps”:
- Eurasia (covering Europe, Russia, and Central Asia)
- Mid-East (covering Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan)
- Latin America (including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean)
- Indo-Pacific (encompassing East and Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives)
According to the document, Canada would no longer maintain a dedicated diplomatic team, with its affairs handled by a “significantly reduced” North American Affairs Office reporting directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s office.
The draft also calls for the elimination of entire offices within the State Department that focus on key international concerns, including climate change, women’s issues, human rights, democracy, migration, and criminal justice.
The proposed changes are part of what the order describes as a “disciplined reorganization” to “streamline mission delivery, project American strength abroad, cut waste, fraud, and abuse, and align the Department with an America First Strategic Doctrine.”
In a bold departure from longstanding hiring practices, the Foreign Service Officer Test would be abolished. Instead, a new selection process would prioritize candidates who demonstrate “alignment with the president’s foreign policy vision.”
The order also proposes a restructuring deadline of October 1, with a voluntary buyout program available to current Foreign Service and civil service personnel unwilling to participate in the new structure. Staff may opt to exit the department through this one-time program, available until September 30.
The New York Times first reported on the draft order. In response, Senator Marco Rubio, named in the document as Secretary of State, dismissed the report as “fake news” in a post on X.
The White House has not issued an official comment on the document.
