US Department of State. File photo.

 

The Trump administration has ordered the removal of dozens of career diplomats from their overseas posts, marking a major shift in how the US State Department operates. The Biden administration informed at least two dozen senior diplomats they must vacate their roles next month. This move is a part of a broader State Department overhaul under US President Trump.

 

Ambassadors traditionally serve three to four years, with changes expected with new administrations. However, the current administration is recalling career diplomats, which is considered a move to align with its “America First” agenda, according to a senior State Department official. Former diplomats, including Eric Rubin, have expressed alarm, noting this action is unprecedented in the 101-year history of the US Foreign Service.

 

A scathing AFSA report suggests the removals send a negative message regarding US diplomatic consistency and teamwork. Unions for foreign service officers have raised concerns over the lack of explanation for the recalls, which are viewed as potentially undermining American commitments and interests globally. Many of the diplomats affected are serving in key regions such as Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

 

Looking forward, these developments set the stage for significant gaps in leadership at US embassies worldwide, as more than half may soon lack confirmed ambassadors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is spearheading broader reforms that include this change in diplomatic staffing. Despite pushback, Rubio claims these changes empower the State Department's regional bureaus by encouraging a grassroots approach, reported CNN.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

• The Trump administration recalls over two dozen career ambassadors.
• Experts warn this could weaken US diplomatic relations and presence.
• Secretary Marco Rubio maintains that the changes enhance the authority of regional bureaus.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-12-23

 

 

 

Its happened before. An older, but relevant article analysing appointments since Woodrow Wilson.

 

https://qz.com/1555392/us-ambassadors-are-less-qualified-under-trump

 

https://qz.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1920,quality=85,format=auto/https://assets.qz.com/media/7287349fb68917b8e916ec62ef8c0771.jpg

 

Quote

 

The world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place and if the US hopes to maintain its global influence, it can’t afford to appoint “under-qualified or incompetent” diplomats to important postings, Scoville’s paper, published this week in the Duke Law Journal, states.

It is not uncommon for newly elected presidents to nominate fairly large numbers of non-career diplomats, Scoville writes. If the trend holds with Trump, the percentage will drop in the coming years of his term and the ratio could conceivably fall in line with historical norms.

“On the other hand,” Scoville continues, “president Trump appears unusually hostile toward the Foreign Service, viewing many of its officers as part of a ‘deep state’ that works to thwart his initiatives.”

 

 

Quote

 

Ambassadors are vetted by the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), where the staff turns over with each new administration. “It’s an office that, for lack of a better way of describing it, is a presidential patronage office,” Brett Bruen, a former US diplomat who was director of global engagement in the Obama White House, tells Quartz. “A place where the spoils of the campaign can be handed out.”

 

A 2018 Washington Post investigation found that under Trump, the PPO has been largely staffed by inexperienced former campaign workers in their 20s who turned the office into a “social hub” where people could be found sitting on couches vaping, past and present White House officials said.

The PPO “requires a lot more oversight than it’s currently getting,” Bruen contends. The president “can and should have the prerogative to choose who he or she wants” for appointed positions but there needs to be a mechanism that allows for other options in consideration of national security concerns, Bruen says.

 

 

George Tsunis was just such a political appointment (Obama appointment), trusted to represent the President's policies to the Kingdom of Norway. John McCain had him sussed.  Ambassadors not only represent the President, they also represent the United States.

 

 

 

Ultimately George Tsunis failed to become Ambassador to Norway, mostly on account of the fact he had never been there in hs like. He became Ambassador to Greece though.

 

But also while a President might nominate someone to be Ambassador, Senate has to confirm the appointment. And the country they are ambassador to has to accept their credentials, without any explanation. With a mass recall of ambassadors and other senior diplomats, that leaves dozens of countries, at a critical moment, without US Ambassadorial representation, with weakened lines of communication, and lessened influence, No doubt the appointees will be contentious, some will be refused, some will withdraw their candidature. 

 

As of 1 Jan 2026, the folllowing countries will not have an in place US Ambassador

 

the Middle East and another pair from South and Central Asia. A further two are serving in the western hemisphere.

The countries are, according to the AP:

Algeria

Armenia

Burundi

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Egypt

Fiji

Gabon

Guatemala

Ivory Coast

Laos

Macedonia

Madagascar

The Marshall Islands

Mauritius

Montenegro

Nepal

Niger

Nigeria

Papua New Guinea

The Philippines

Rwanda

Senegal

Slovakia

Somalia

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Vietnam

 

This adds to the current list of missions with an Ambassadorial vacancy

 

Afghanistan
Albania
Angola and São Tomé & Príncipe
APEC
ASEAN
Australia
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Congo (Republic of)
Cuba
Ecuador
El Salvador
Eritrea
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Guinea
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
IAEA
ICAO
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Mauritania
Moldova
Mozambique
New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue
Nicaragua
Norway
OECD
OSCE
Pakistan
Paraguay
Qatar
Russia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
UN / Conf. on Disarmament
UN / Geneva
UN / Human Rights Council
UN / Vienna
UNESCO
Venezuela

 

(Source: https://afsa.org/list-ambassadorial-appointments)

 

The latest announcement means that currently, 57% of US diplomatic missions have no ambassadorial leadership. Among the list are many key allies.

 

 

"The Biden administration informed at least two dozen senior diplomats they must vacate their roles next month. "

So is this a slip up... did Biden win 2024 election EVEN THOUGH he dropped out! Oh the conspiracy!

Those fired dips are the last ditch before total collapse of respect of USA around the world.

"They're not laughing at us anymore"

More like shake of head and sadness...

On 12/23/2025 at 5:12 AM, Roadsternut said:

Its happened before. An older, but relevant article analysing appointments since Woodrow Wilson.

 

https://qz.com/1555392/us-ambassadors-are-less-qualified-under-trump

 

https://qz.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1920,quality=85,format=auto/https://assets.qz.com/media/7287349fb68917b8e916ec62ef8c0771.jpg

 

 

 

George Tsunis was just such a political appointment (Obama appointment), trusted to represent the President's policies to the Kingdom of Norway. John McCain had him sussed.  Ambassadors not only represent the President, they also represent the United States.

 

 

 

Ultimately George Tsunis failed to become Ambassador to Norway, mostly on account of the fact he had never been there in hs like. He became Ambassador to Greece though.

 

But also while a President might nominate someone to be Ambassador, Senate has to confirm the appointment. And the country they are ambassador to has to accept their credentials, without any explanation. With a mass recall of ambassadors and other senior diplomats, that leaves dozens of countries, at a critical moment, without US Ambassadorial representation, with weakened lines of communication, and lessened influence, No doubt the appointees will be contentious, some will be refused, some will withdraw their candidature. 

 

As of 1 Jan 2026, the folllowing countries will not have an in place US Ambassador

 

the Middle East and another pair from South and Central Asia. A further two are serving in the western hemisphere.

The countries are, according to the AP:

Algeria

Armenia

Burundi

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Egypt

Fiji

Gabon

Guatemala

Ivory Coast

Laos

Macedonia

Madagascar

The Marshall Islands

Mauritius

Montenegro

Nepal

Niger

Nigeria

Papua New Guinea

The Philippines

Rwanda

Senegal

Slovakia

Somalia

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Vietnam

 

This adds to the current list of missions with an Ambassadorial vacancy

 

Afghanistan
Albania
Angola and São Tomé & Príncipe
APEC
ASEAN
Australia
Azerbaijan
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Congo (Republic of)
Cuba
Ecuador
El Salvador
Eritrea
Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Guinea
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
IAEA
ICAO
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Jamaica
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Mauritania
Moldova
Mozambique
New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue
Nicaragua
Norway
OECD
OSCE
Pakistan
Paraguay
Qatar
Russia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
UN / Conf. on Disarmament
UN / Geneva
UN / Human Rights Council
UN / Vienna
UNESCO
Venezuela

 

(Source: https://afsa.org/list-ambassadorial-appointments)

 

The latest announcement means that currently, 57% of US diplomatic missions have no ambassadorial leadership. Among the list are many key allies.

 

 

You can add Thailand. Previous Amb. gone, new Nominee not Senate Confirmed (as far as I know being here in Thailand).

About time !

22 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

About time !

Of all the knee-jerk "have to defend Trump no matter what!!!" posts, this one stands out. Congratulations, buddy, you have just given us a textbook example!

1 hour ago, BLMFem said:

Of all the knee-jerk "have to defend Trump no matter what!!!" posts, this one stands out. Congratulations, buddy, you have just given us a textbook example!

Many thanks. Appreciated.

Guess Thailand has a MAGAt.