In Washington, hundreds of diplomats, including veterans with decades of service, have been dismissed by the Trump administration via email.
“Elchi” reports that the US State Department has ensured the dismissal of approximately 250 foreign service officials through brief, formal emails. This downsizing operation, which began last year, has also affected more than a thousand civil servants.
Former officials state that specialized energy and diplomacy units capable of guiding the administration have been completely shut down, especially during this sensitive period involving ongoing crises in Iran and Ukraine. The Department claims these steps were taken to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiency.
Beyond the purges, the current administration has narrowed the paths for career diplomat advancement, resulting in approximately 2,000 diplomats retiring or being forced to resign. Currently, more than 100 US ambassador positions worldwide are vacant.
Former ambassadors emphasize that the loss of experience will cause significant long-term damage to the country’s foreign policy and destroy institutional memory.
The introduction of a “loyalty to management policy” criterion in annual performance evaluations within the ministry is also increasing pressure on employees. However, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected all criticism, stating that the reforms have created a more dynamic structure capable of moving faster.
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