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 ...
(your tag line). Maybe clean it up a bit. Not being nasty.
Trump’s got the swamp to drain itself!
I guess that retirement looked better than the offer of reassignment to Abuja, Nigeria — the only choice they had. No more Spain or London for these guys — good job Tillerson. /sarc
And guess what...NONE of these parasites are missed.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Average monthly minimum temperature: -3.1 F
Average monthly maximum temperature: 56.3 F
I've read many of the original OSS staff were communists because they thought capitalism was unsustainable.
State Department senior ranks being depleted at ‘dizzying speed’
Best new of the day...so far.
Draining the swamp, every last little stagnant pool.
whoopeeeeee!
Oh, boy. When the news of where that $2 billion was spent gets out, we’ll have another scandal on our hands.
I wonder if Trump, Tillerson, and Sessions have a running schedule. “Gee, what Obama/Clinton scandal shall we let loose this month? We got a bonus this month when Donna Brazile spoke out. Great...”
>>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.
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No, Ms. Unionperson. Not “without” these leaders. WITH these leaders, the US FACED a diminished role.
Oh boo hoo, boo hoo.
Agreed we are winning. It also looks like people in the EPA are leaving, now hope for a mass exodus from the department of education.
Clean out the commies.
Yes it is! Just has to replace them with the right people and let some go away that aren’t necessary.
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