U.S. foreign policy is showing signs of strain as many State Department officials say the Trump administration has gutted the diplomatic service just when global challenges demand its strength.
Current and former diplomats have detailed widespread vacancies in ambassadorial posts, acting leadership in nearly every major bureau, and a growing culture of reticence among those who once spoke up, in a report published in Politico Sunday.
The report noted that more than half of all U.S. ambassadorships are currently unfilled. Many key positions, including top undersecretary and assistant secretary roles, are being held by staffers in an acting capacity, often people with limited experience relevant to the responsibilities.
U.S. diplomats quoted in the report noted that messages from headquarters to overseas posts have become far less frequent and clear than they once were, even as sweeping shifts in policy take effect.
“There’s a sharp decline in transparency,” a State Department official, whose name was not disclosed, told Politico.
According to the report, a system of promotion now asks whether a career official has shown “fidelity” to administration goals.
The officials also describe an atmosphere of fear.
"There’s also a pervasive sense of fear at many posts. Much of it revolves around diplomats’ ability to communicate and voice dissent — even on basic policy disagreements," the report said.
One senior official told Politico: “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. Why would I do that? This administration isn’t interested.”
Others fear that openly critical analysis may result in being passed over for promotions or reassigned.
The report noted that diplomatic morale is suffering as many believe the foreign service is being recast from an institution of policy creation and strategy into one of policy execution — where ideas must flow downward, not upward.
Former ambassador Ronald Neumann warned of the risk: “Loyalty to decisions has always been a fundamental requirement for America’s foreign service, but if speaking honestly internally is suppressed, the administration will stumble blindly into avoidable dangers."