Trump’s Proposed Executive Order Aims to Implement Major Reforms at the U.S. State Department

(L-R) US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) look on during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images The Trump administration could soon implement significant changes to the U.S. State Department, according to a draft executive order that outlines a “disciplined reorganization” of the nation’s diplomatic service.

The 16-page draft order, which is not dated but appears to be prepared for President Donald Trump’s signature, would dramatically alter the department if enacted—closing American embassies across Southern Africa and eliminating bureaus that address issues such as democracy and human rights, as well as organizations like the United Nations.

The order also outlines an overhaul of the process for selecting and training U.S. diplomats. According to the order, the changes aim to “streamline mission delivery, project American strength abroad, cut waste, fraud, and abuse, and align the Department with an America First Strategic Doctrine reflecting the priorities of the Executive Branch.”

The draft executive order proposes the elimination of all “non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa” and the consolidation of regional bureaus globally. Current regional bureaus, per the order, would be consolidated under four “regional corps”:
– Eurasia, including Europe, Russia, and Central Asia;
– Mid-East, covering Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan;
– Latin America, incorporating Central America, South America, and the Caribbean; and
– Indo-Pacific, including East and Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

America’s diplomatic presence in Canada would be significantly reduced under the order. State Department operations in Canada would be transferred to a smaller team serving under the North American Affairs Office within Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s office.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the draft order. The document was first reported by The New York Times. Rubio, in response to the coverage, stated on X: “This is fake news.”

The draft order also calls for the termination of departments focusing on climate, women’s issues, democracy, human rights, migration, and criminal justice.

In addition to the consolidation of embassies and consulates, the order proposes fundamental changes to the department’s hiring practices. The longstanding Foreign Service Officer Test would be eliminated in favor of an evaluation based on whether candidates demonstrate “alignment with the president’s foreign policy vision.”

The draft order states that the “full structural reorganization and transition” should be completed by October 1. It also notes that current foreign services officers or civil service personnel who do not wish to join the new regional organizational structure or “serve the interests of the administration may choose to voluntarily separate from the department through a one-time buyout and transition program” until September 30.

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