The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping recall of nearly 30 senior career diplomats from ambassadorial and other key embassy positions across the globe, a move that has left critical diplomatic posts vacant and drawn sharp criticism from former officials.
A Sudden and Widespread Recall
According to State Department officials, diplomats in 29 countries were given formal notices on Wednesday informing them they must leave their posts by mid-January. While all were originally appointed by the preceding Biden administration, they had remained in their roles for the first year of Trump's second term, surviving an earlier wave of cuts that primarily targeted political appointees.
No explicit explanation was provided in the directive. However, Trump administration officials stated the envoys would be replaced with personnel fully aligned with President Donald Trump's 'America First' foreign policy priorities. A senior State Department official described the move as a 'standard process in any administration', while conceding the President wants representatives who support his specific policy goals.
'An ambassador is a personal representative of the president and it is the president's right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the 'America First' agenda,' the official said.
Leaving Critical Posts Vacant
The abrupt recall leaves the United States without confirmed leadership in strategically important nations, including Rwanda, Egypt, and Armenia. Washington is actively engaged in peace efforts championed by the president in all three countries. The action is seen as part of a broader Trump administration strategy to concentrate high-stakes diplomacy within a small cadre of special envoys, such as the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who are handling sensitive talks on Russia-Ukraine and post-war Gaza plans.
The process of removing the ambassadors was described as 'highly irregular' by critics. Many, including US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, reportedly learned of their recall via abrupt phone calls with little detail. In a holiday message, Carlson expressed her sadness and uncertainty, writing, 'I hope to stay a few weeks longer to help make the transition as smooth as possible.'
The shake-up affects a wide geographical spread:
- Africa (13 countries): Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda.
- Asia (6 countries): Fiji, Laos, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam.
- Europe (4 countries): Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia.
- Middle East (2 countries): Algeria and Egypt.
- South/Central Asia (2 countries): Nepal and Sri Lanka.
- Western Hemisphere (2 countries): Guatemala and Suriname.
Criticism and Consequences
The recall has provoked significant alarm among diplomatic professionals and lawmakers. The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) condemned the 'abrupt, unexplained recalls', stating they reflect a pattern of 'institutional sabotage and politicization' that harms morale and US credibility abroad.
Eric Rubin, a retired career diplomat and former AFSA president, warned that the US now faces a situation where more than half of its embassies worldwide will lack a confirmed ambassador. He labelled it a 'serious insult to the countries affected and a huge gift to China.'
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen echoed this, stating, 'President Trump is giving away U.S. leadership to China and Russia by removing qualified career Ambassadors... This makes America less safe, less strong and less prosperous.' Congressman Bill Keating urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reverse the decision, calling it 'a reckless move that harms America's credibility.'
Practical difficulties are also expected. Appointing a new ambassador requires Senate confirmation, a process that can take months. In the interim, the absence of an ambassador can complicate high-level meetings and the delivery of sensitive messages.
Secretary of State Rubio has defended the administration's approach. At a recent news conference, he argued that Foreign Service officers are 'more empowered at the regional bureau than they have ever been' and that the restructuring would encourage ideas 'from the bottom up.'
This diplomatic overhaul follows a damning AFSA survey which found that 86% of Foreign Service members believe Trump's changes have impaired their ability to execute foreign policy, and 98% report declining morale since he took office last year.
