WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump entered his second term promising to overhaul American diplomacy. But inside the State Department, many career officials say the administration is hollowing it out instead — sidelining diplomats, leaving critical posts vacant, and creating an atmosphere of fear that undermines U.S. influence abroad.
Eight months into Trump’s second term, more than half of U.S. ambassadorships remain unfilled, according to data from the American Foreign Service Association. Dozens of top State Department roles are also being managed by acting officials, many with limited diplomatic experience. The vacancies, combined with new promotion rules that measure “fidelity” to Trump’s agenda, have left career staffers wary of offering candid advice.
“In Trump’s first administration, people would say, ‘This isn’t right — we need to tell the White House.’ There’s none of that this time,” one State Department official said. “Why would I do that? This administration isn’t interested.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as acting national security adviser, has streamlined the policy process, concentrating decision-making in a small circle of White House loyalists. Supporters say the goal is to cut bureaucracy, curb leaks, and advance the president’s agenda. But current and former diplomats warn the result is a diminished Foreign Service that carries out directives without shaping them.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, defended Rubio’s reorganization. “The secretary has ensured regional bureaus and embassies are positioned to impact policies,” he said. “What we will not tolerate is people using their positions to actively undermine the duly elected president’s objectives.”
Still, the department faces steep challenges. Offices focused on democracy promotion and human rights have been downsized, visa rules tightened, and diplomats instructed to prioritize U.S. business interests abroad. At the same time, many embassies report limited communication from Washington, leaving staff scrambling to interpret shifting directives.
The uncertainty has fueled rumors of electronic monitoring inside embassies and intensified concerns about reprisals for dissent. A recent note from the American Foreign Service Association warned officers to consider liability insurance and reminded members that “interpersonal interactions… can be recorded and shared.”
The sense of unease extends to the ambassador corps. As of this month, 110 of 195 ambassador positions are vacant, with more than 60 lacking even a nominee. Career officers say the absence of Senate-confirmed envoys weakens U.S. standing abroad, especially in countries where protocol limits access to temporary representatives.
Some of the frustration centers on personnel decisions. Political appointees viewed as loyal to Trump have been elevated over more experienced career diplomats, particularly in the State Department’s Middle East bureau, one of the most sensitive portfolios. Critics say the approach mirrors the president’s longstanding suspicion of Foggy Bottom, which he has often characterized as a liberal-leaning bureaucracy resistant to his “America First” agenda.
The changes have sparked fears about long-term damage. “If speaking honestly internally is suppressed, the administration will stumble blindly into avoidable dangers,” warned Ronald Neumann, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
While the administration insists its reforms will make diplomacy more effective, many career officials describe a profession in retreat, stripped of influence in Washington and uncertain of its future abroad.
