Trump Eyes Sweeping State Department Overhaul

A draft executive order prepared for President Trump proposes a sweeping reorganization of the US State Department, including eliminating or drastically reducing offices dealing with climate policy, refugees, human rights, democracy, and African affairs. The plan would consolidate the department into four regional bureaus, close unspecified 'nonessential' embassies—particularly in Africa—and downgrade the US diplomatic presence in Canada. It also calls for eliminating the Bureau of International Organizations, which liaises with the United Nations, signaling a retreat from multilateral engagement. Staff cuts, office buyouts, and a shift to a regionally specialized career framework are proposed, with an aggressive implementation deadline of October 1. Critics and some officials warn the plan could violate existing laws and emphasize that it has not been finalized, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissing media reports as 'fake news.' If enacted, these changes would represent the largest overhaul of the State Department since its founding in 1789.