Trump to Restructure State Department, Slash African Diplomacy in Sweeping Overhaul

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly finalizing an executive order that would drastically reshape America’s diplomatic approach in Africa, reduce foreign missions, and reorganize key departments within the State Department.

According to reports from The New York Times, the draft order spans 16 pages and proposes the closure of several U.S. embassies and consulates across African nations by October 1. These changes aim to streamline U.S. diplomacy, cut spending, and shift focus toward mission-specific deployments in regions deemed strategically significant.

Key Diplomatic Bureau to Be Dissolved

Under the proposed plan, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs—responsible for managing U.S. policy in sub-Saharan Africa—will be disbanded. Its core functions will be transferred to a new task force that will focus on high-priority issues like counter-terrorism, conflict zones, and regional security threats.

Departments Focused on Human Rights, Climate, Refugees to Be Cut

The restructuring will also target several policy offices in Washington, including those focused on climate change, democracy promotion, refugee assistance, and human rights. High-level roles overseeing these domains, such as the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and the Special Envoy for Climate, are also expected to be phased out.

In contrast, a new role focused on national threats like drug trafficking and transnational crime is expected to be created.

Diplomatic Retrenchment to Affect North America as Well

Diplomatic cuts are not limited to Africa. The U.S. embassy in Ottawa, Canada, is also slated for a major downsizing, with similar reductions planned for staff managing regional affairs in North America.

New Hiring Policies for U.S. Diplomats

Another major reform targets the recruitment of U.S. diplomats. The current exam-based selection process will be replaced with a new system focused on identifying individuals aligned with the President’s policy vision, marking a shift toward more politically appointed diplomats.

Changes to Fulbright and Educational Outreach Programs

Educational initiatives are also being revised. The Fulbright Program, once open to a broad range of academic disciplines, will now be restricted to graduate students studying national security. Scholarships previously available through partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), such as Howard University, are expected to be canceled.