Politico reports that the US president is shifting away from “soft power” tactics in an effort to cut costs.
According to Politico, President Trump is planning a significant restructuring of the State Department, aiming to reduce the number of diplomats and embassies while prioritizing US interests. The information is based on sources and internal documents.
The administration reportedly aims to prioritize transactional agreements that protect US security and investment interests. This strategy involves reducing reliance on traditional “soft power” methods, such as programs that promote democracy worldwide.
The new strategy may include staff reductions and embassy closures. While the exact number of closures is not yet known, Politico’s sources say that Secretary of State Marco Rubio supports the policy, with discussions suggesting a potential 20% reduction in State Department staff.
An unnamed official told Politico that the State Department’s Executive Secretariat contacted several key US agencies, including the Pentagon and the CIA, asking them to rank US embassies based on their importance to their operations.
Politico also obtained a list of potential consulate closures, including facilities in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Brazil. In some instances, closures would mean that remaining facilities would have to cover a larger geographic area.
Several State Department bureaus focused on education, the environment, and scientific affairs could also face significant reductions or closures. The Economic Affairs Bureau is expected to remain, aligning with Trump’s focus on transactional diplomacy. The Consular Affairs Division, which handles visas and assists Americans abroad, is also expected to remain a core function, but might see some staff reductions.
Trump has already issued an order to reform State Department recruitment, which Politico suggests would lead to a more “pliable” and easily dismissed staff. A former senior State Department official cited by the outlet warned that this could discourage diplomats from expressing dissenting views, potentially harming the decision-making process.
Tom Shannon, a former State Department official, argued that the Trump administration’s approach would “dramatically shrink the ambit of American diplomacy… [and] the purpose and the practice of our diplomacy and return it, if not to the 19th century, at least pre-World War II.”
Politico also cited critics who warned that the reforms could have long-term negative consequences for US foreign policy, especially concerning competition with China.
The Trump administration states its goals are to reduce government spending, fight bureaucracy, and combat corruption within US agencies, citing the high national debt. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading this effort.
The US leader has already targeted the US Agency for International Development (USAID), characterizing it as a wasteful agency run by “radical left lunatics.”
“`