'Politically motivated cash grab': Secretary Rubio wants to kill this crucial office in State Department

Secretary of State Marco Rubio wants to abolish Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (BCSO) at the State Department, a crucial human rights office that works on prevention of conflict, crisis response and stabilizing activities in priority states.

The New Republic reported that the proposal to overhaul the department unveiled by Rubio on Tuesday would abolish the CSO, which also documents the Russian war crimes in Ukraine

According to the State Department website, "CSO provides surge capabilities to end costly wars, prevent new conflicts, and secure U.S. economic interests in strategic locations."

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It also works on "driving integrated, civilian-led efforts to prevent, respond to, and stabilize crises in priority states, setting conditions for long-term peace.”

The first phase of an initiative to restructure the State Department was launched Tuesday, involving the elimination of 132 domestic offices, a reduction of approximately 700 jobs in Washington, DC, and the closure of offices dedicated to war crimes and global conflict.

"Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department.," Rubio wrote in a post on the social platform X on Tuesday morning.

"These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first," he added.

According to CNN, the State Department contended that these changes are essential for preserving the department's effectiveness and relevance, with a senior official describing the existing organizational structure as “bloated” and claiming it has had a “deleterious effect on foreign policy.”

The official said the changes will not lead to immediate layoffs, but added that some officials might face job losses. As part of the reorganization, around 700 positions at the Washington headquarters are reportedly anticipated to be cut.

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Brett Bruen, a former State Department official, sees the decision to kill the BCSO as "a politically motivated cash grab," per The New Republic.

Last week, Bruen told The Washington Post, “It is essentially the demolishing of our international influence instruments.… The administration is trying to essentially have more discretionary funds available."

He noted that the Trump administration was reducing the capacity for oversight while claiming that efficacy is their priority.

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