• The State Department plans to cut approximately 3,448 U.S.-based jobs as part of a major reorganization.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes moving towards an agile department focused on Western values.
• Significant shifts in departmental focus, particularly concerning refugees and human rights, are outlined.

The Trump administration has notified Congress of a significant restructuring of the State Department, proposing to eliminate around 3,448 jobs and merge or eliminate more than 300 bureaus and offices. This extensive reorganization aims to streamline operations which Secretary of State Marco Rubio describes as having become too "bloated" and bureaucratic, stating that the plan will enhance the department's ability to promote America's interests effectively, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and Dawn.

The restructuring will involve the focus of the Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration shifting towards aiding the deportation of illegal migrants rather than facilitating their entry into the U.S. This is part of a broader effort led by the Trump administration to align foreign policy and domestic operations with its "America First" initiative. As Rubio explained, the new structure aims to better reflect U.S. values in diplomacy, emphasizing "Western values" and democracy, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, and Dawn.

The proposed cuts particularly target programs and offices deemed "ideologically driven" and *unproductive*, including some related to human rights and democracy promotion. Critics, including veteran advocates, have expressed concern that eliminating these programs represents a significant withdrawal from traditional U.S. commitments to international cooperation and aid. The Veterans group responding to these changes described them as "deliberate dismantling" of supportive structures established for Afghan nationals who aided U.S. military efforts, according to Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and Dawn.

Furthermore, the restructuring intends to unite various departments dealing with foreign assistance and humanitarian affairs under a newly established role. This **under secretary** will oversee a reconstituted Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, which Rubio indicates will focus more heavily on promoting commercial and civil liberties in alignment with U.S. values. The incorporation of a focus on "free-market principles" and sensitivities around **free speech** from European counterparts will also play a role in the administration’s foreign policy moving forward, as outlined in the notices submitted to Congress, according to CBS News, Los Angeles Times, and Dawn.