Trump Administration Recalls Nearly 30 Ambassadors to Promote Loyal Diplomats
Nearly 30 ambassadors and senior overseas diplomats were recalled in a move by the Trump administration to promote appointees loyal to the new administration to higher levels within the State Department. This recall primarily targeted career Foreign Service officers who head embassies, an unusual step for the department, with officials stating that those recalled will be reassigned rather than fired.
The move follows the administration's promise to purge a 'deep state' of civil servants, sparking criticism that it represents a purge of professional government employees. Diplomatic unions such as the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) warned that the promotions could politicise the Foreign Service and lack fairness, demanding explanations for why some were promoted ahead of others.
The affected regions include African countries such as Niger, Uganda, Senegal, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda; Middle Eastern countries including Egypt and Algeria; and European nations such as Slovakia, Montenegro, Armenia, and North Macedonia.
Reports first emerged via Politico, with a partial list of removals published by the Associated Press. Senator Jeanne Shaheen commented that approximately 80 ambassadorships remain vacant and criticized the removal of qualified career ambassadors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he had delivered a new list of hundreds of diplomats nominated for promotion after revising promotion criteria and panels.
White House officials, including Stephen Miller, reportedly sought to place allies within the State Department to advance tighter immigration policies. AFSA cautioned that promoting diplomats consistent with leadership preferences could politicise diplomacy and undermine professional standards.
