The Donald Trump administration unveiled its ambitious plan for a "massive overhaul" of the US State Department on Tuesday. United States secretary of state Marco Rubio, who leads the department and announced the reorganization plan, said the move was part of the federal government's "America First" mandate.
"We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources. That is why, under the leadership of President Trump and at my direction, I am announcing a reorganisation of the Department so it may meet the immense challenges of the 21st Century and put America First," Rubio said in a department-wide email.
Consolidation of bureaus and offices
The plans include consolidating 734 bureaus and offices to 602. Also, as many as 137 offices would be 137 transitioned to another location within the department to increase their efficiency.
Staff reduction in US
The document envisions the State Department to have 15 per cent less employees in the United States than the existing number its of staffers in the country.
New office to supervise bureau on 'democracy and human rights'
A new office of "coordination for foreign assistance and humanitarian affairs" would oversee a bureau on "democracy, human rights and religious freedom," a shift from the current "democracy, human rights and labour." It would also absorb the functions of the US Agency for International Development.
The new office would replace a division which oversees "civilian security, democracy and human rights." The division is currently led by an under-secretary of state, a senior position.
Key offices to be shut down
The plan proposes to eliminate Conflict and Stabilization Operations, whose activities have included a task force to "anticipate and prevent" atrocities overseas, before these occur.
Also absent under the restructuring is an office on war crimes, whose recent work has included documenting Russia's war in Ukraine.
(With agency inputs)
"We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources. That is why, under the leadership of President Trump and at my direction, I am announcing a reorganisation of the Department so it may meet the immense challenges of the 21st Century and put America First," Rubio said in a department-wide email.
Consolidation of bureaus and offices
The plans include consolidating 734 bureaus and offices to 602. Also, as many as 137 offices would be 137 transitioned to another location within the department to increase their efficiency.
Staff reduction in US
The document envisions the State Department to have 15 per cent less employees in the United States than the existing number its of staffers in the country.
New office to supervise bureau on 'democracy and human rights'
A new office of "coordination for foreign assistance and humanitarian affairs" would oversee a bureau on "democracy, human rights and religious freedom," a shift from the current "democracy, human rights and labour." It would also absorb the functions of the US Agency for International Development.
The new office would replace a division which oversees "civilian security, democracy and human rights." The division is currently led by an under-secretary of state, a senior position.
Key offices to be shut down
The plan proposes to eliminate Conflict and Stabilization Operations, whose activities have included a task force to "anticipate and prevent" atrocities overseas, before these occur.
Also absent under the restructuring is an office on war crimes, whose recent work has included documenting Russia's war in Ukraine.
(With agency inputs)
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