Up to 30 U.S. ambassadors, career diplomats recalled by White House
by Paul Godfrey · UPIDec. 23 (UPI) -- The White House sent home as many as 30 career diplomats and other overseas officials as part of an effort to ensure the U.S. Foreign Service toes the line on President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.
The ambassadors and chiefs of mission in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe were notified by phone beginning last week that they were being recalled to the United States and must vacate their posts by the middle of January, unnamed officials told The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.
The departure of so many U.S. envoys would create a sizeable hole in America's representation internationally at a time when Trump is looking to diplomatic efforts to provide U.S. solutions to disputes around the world.
The Times said all those recalled were appointed and confirmed by the U.S. Senate under the previous administration of President Joe Biden, but the Post reported that no less than 24 of the career diplomats had served under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
All of the ambassadors affected received their latest promotion under Biden.
With a standard overseas posting normally lasting three to four years, the reshuffle is potentially within bounds and not exceptional, a point underscored by a senior State Department official who called it "a standard process in any administration."
"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.
Ambassadors have traditionally been either career diplomats or political appointees -- friends or donors of the president -- who usually resign along with the president when he leaves office. Career diplomats, as the name suggests, are not political hires and can remain in post for many years after the president who appointed them has departed.
However, the union representing career diplomats said the scale and lack of visibility was unprecedented, while staffers said the move would leave strategically key missions without leaders and that with just 90 days to find a new position in the department, the move could prove fatal to many diplomats' careers.
The American Foreign Service Association said that those affected were mostly notified by phone without any advance notice.
"To remove these senior diplomats without cause or justification sends a dangerous message. It tells our public servants that loyalty to country is no longer enough -- that experience and oath to the Constitution take a back seat to political loyalty."
U.S. ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson was one of those affected, telling friends and family in a letter that while she hoped to gain a few extra weeks to "make the transition as smooth as possible and lessen the gap between ambassadors," she was making plans to leave by the mid-January deadline.
In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a major reorganization of the department involving 3,400 U.S.-based staff quit or be laid off from bureaus that cover Asia and the Middle East and across seven divisions, including the Rubio's own office.
He said that under Trump's leadership, he was beginning the process of "reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy" at the department.
"These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first,' he said.