ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to overhaul the foreign service to ensure the “faithful and effective implementation” of his foreign policy agenda.
The order comes in the wake of turmoil at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and marks a broader push to align US foreign policy with Trump’s “America First” agenda. Trump has also reiterated his commitment to eliminating what he terms the “deep state,” vowing to remove bureaucrats he perceives as disloyal.
The executive order stipulates that failure to carry out the president’s policies could lead to professional disciplinary actions, including termination. It also requires that the Secretary of State maintain a highly qualified workforce of patriots to effectively carry out the president’s agenda.
The order mandates that the Secretary of State implement reforms across recruiting, performance evaluation, and retention practices to ensure the workforce aligns with Trump’s foreign policy objectives. It also allows the Secretary to overhaul programs at the Foreign Service Institute and revise the Foreign Affairs Manual as necessary.
Earlier this year, shortly after taking office, Trump froze most US foreign aid to ensure it supported his “America First” policies. The freeze led to USAID staff being put on leave, with some senior staff being purged, causing significant disruptions within the agency, including the temporary shutdown of its website. Secretary Rubio was appointed as acting administrator of USAID following the shake-up. Former and current USAID officials suggest that these staff removals were part of an effort to suppress dissent within the agency.
