Posted on 11/08/2017 9:19:38 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
The U.S.’s ranks of diplomats are losing key leaders at a “dizzying speed” as the State Department struggles to recruit talent amid a hiring freeze and sinking morale in the Trump administration, according to a new letter from a top ambassador.
Sixty percent of the agency’s career ambassadors, the highest rank for diplomats, have retired or quit since January. Nearly half of career ministers — the next level down and equivalent to the military’s three-star generals — are gone too, down to 19 from 33. The next-level minister counselors have seen their numbers drop by 62 diplomats since Labor Day alone “and are still falling,” writes Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association union.
Without these leaders, the U.S. could face a diminished role on the world stage, unable to keep up with the increasingly aggressive foreign policies of rising countries like China, she argues.
So far, the Trump administration has only seven high-level political appointees confirmed by the Senate and working in the department — outside of Tillerson but including USAID Administrator Mark Green and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan. An additional eight nominees are working their way through the confirmation process now, with the Senate either awaiting their paperwork or the nominees awaiting a Senate hearing or vote.
But in the absence of Trump nominees, there are 30 senior roles filled by career diplomats in acting capacities. Although there is someone doing the work, they do not enjoy the full legal authority of their role or the image of speaking on the administration’s behalf to the world.
There are 39 other senior roles that are vacant, but Tillerson has said he plans to eliminate 18 of those and fold their responsibilities into other jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Winning!
Good!
WINNING!
The swamp is draining.
What’s the bad news?
The State Department nickname is foggy bottom; it sound like the swamp is being drained. If the department was top heavy with career bureaucrats, then a lot of retirements is not a bad thing.
> What’s the bad news? <
They all haven’t resigned.
Winning, but the numbers aren’t nearly big enough. Thousands to cut.
I am still waiting for a mass liberal suicide. That will make me very happy.
Look at the state of the world that has been brought to you by these "key leaders."
Key leaders? My azz!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IMO, not a 'bad' thing, considering how infested the State Department is with Obamabots, Clintonistas, Globalists, etc.
Get out!
This is a good example of the reason Donald Trump was elected to the presidency.
What is happening (and not happening) over at the Justice department is not.
No indictments?
Bad morale is a very good sign!
Wow. This is much faster than I expected. I guess T Rex has done scared them out... Great news.
And now our State Department will negotiate for American industry as not all the globalist/environmental crap.
A welcome sea change in the culture is coming at State.
Eff “Diplomats”
We need all of “zero” of these roles.
More winning! Drain the fu@kjng Snake Dept Nazi and islamonazi swamp and put some good loyal honest Americans in there. Go Trump! ( ps: and get greenblatt and kushner out of the Mideast !! Give them something else they can do without mucking it up !!)
(I am still waiting for a mass liberal suicide.)
That’ll happen once Trump wins a 2nd term. Most of them think they can take 4 years. The thought of having to take another 4 might be too much for them! LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.