US State Department Overhaul In The Works, Claims Report; Embassies In Africa Likely To Be Shut Down

As the Trump administration continues to make waves, reports have claimed a major overhaul for the US State Department in underway.

As per a report by the New York Times, the draft executive order from the White House includes eliminating almost all of its Africa operations and shutting down embassies and consulates across the continent.

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As per NYT, the draft order calls for cutting offices at the State Department which focus on climate change, refugee issues, democracy and human rights concerns.

The report added that the purpose of the order is for a "disciplined reorganisation" of the Department of State and to "streamline mission delivery" and cut "waste, fraud and abuse."

The order is expected to be signed next week.

When it comes to the reorganisation of the State Department, regional offices and bureaus would be removed and clubbed together.

For instance, four corps would be formed - Eurasia Corps, consisting of Europe, Russia and Central Asia; Mid-East Corps for Arab nations, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan; Latin America Corps for Central America, South America and the Caribbean; and Indo-Pacific Corps, which will focus on East Asia, Southeast Asia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

As accessed by NYT, the draft order further calls for the lay offs of both career diplomats and civil service employees. Additionally, it also called for an end to the foreign service exam for aspiring diplomats.

The order would pave the way for the president to hire people who are "more aligned with the president's foreign policy vision."

Furthermore, the order has also called for the use of artificial intelligence to draft documents and undertake "policy development and review."