State Department cut jobs with deep expertise in Middle East as Iran crisis escalates
Cuts and management decisions reduced experienced staff by over 3,800, undermining emergency response and evacuation planning amid escalating Iran-related conflicts, officials say.
- The State Department has cut more than 80 staffers in Near Eastern Affairs, replacing veteran diplomats with junior officials and political appointees.
- More than 3,800 employees have departed since President Trump, with management choices like appointing Mora Namdar to lead the bureau, drawing criticism.
- Describing the internal environment, Yael Lempert said, 'In the time that I was there, there was no policy process to speak of.'
- Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned personnel losses 'clearly undermined' the Bureau of Consular Affairs' mission, while Tommy Pigott denied negative operational impacts.
- On Thursday, five former ambassadors are scheduled to discuss department failures at an event hosted by the American Academy of Diplomacy in Washington.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Where did the experts go? State Department cuts limit the Iran war effort
The widening war in Iran is exposing big gaps at the State Department, especially in the bureau that handles the Middle East. In recent weeks, officials say, the Trump administration has cut staff, left key leadership jobs vacant and relied…
Hollowed-out State Department strains to manage the Iran war, officials say
Personnel and management choices — coupled with President Donald Trump’s moves to shrink government and confine decision-making to a tight circle — are limiting the ability of the United States to handle a global emergency, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former U.S. officials.
Trump administration’s downsizing leaves US diplomats short-handed in Middle East crisis
In the escalating war in Iran, the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the center of the geopolitical fray.Typically led by a veteran diplomat, the bureaus role would be to coordinate U.S. foreign policy across an 18-country region, much of which has become a chaotic battlefield scarred by drone and missile strikes as the U.S. and Israel remain locked in conflict with Iran.The Trump administration for a time p…
West Asia war: US State Department cut jobs with deep expertise in Middle East as Iran crisis escalates
US-Israel Iran War: America's response to the Iran conflict faces challenges. Key diplomatic roles remain vacant. Experienced staff departures and budget cuts weaken the State Department's ability to manage crises. Evacuation planning for Americans abroad was delayed and chaotic. This situation raises concerns about national security and protecting citizens in a volatile region.
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