Trump Overhaul Leaves 109 of 195 U.S. Ambassador Posts Vacant as Allies Bypass State Department
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 21
Trump Overhaul Leaves 109 of 195 U.S. Ambassador Posts Vacant as Allies Bypass State Department
5 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 21
109 of 195 U.S. ambassadorial posts are vacant after Trump’s State Department overhaul, leaving allies unable to get clear answers through normal channels during crises such as Trump’s threat to Iran.
3,000 State Department employees left last year and about 30 ambassadors were abruptly recalled in December, while the National Security Council was cut from hundreds of staff to a few dozen, according to Reuters interviews.
Foreign governments are adapting by routing messages through Trump insiders and unofficial intermediaries, including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Susie Wiles and, in Japan’s case, SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son.
That shift has sidelined expertise: diplomats said Witkoff’s team entered Iran talks without nuclear specialists, and former Kyiv ambassador Bridget Brink said even urgent questions over halted Ukraine aid went unanswered.
The administration says the changes make government leaner and more effective, but diplomats and historians warn the concentration of foreign-policy power around Trump is weakening crisis management and raising global instability risks.
With its professional diplomatic corps shrinking, is America permanently losing its long-held position of global leadership?
As personal envoys conduct U.S. diplomacy, what are the real risks of miscalculation in a world on edge?
Is backchannel diplomacy by informal presidential advisors becoming the new global standard for resolving international crises?
America’s Diplomatic Vacuum: Record Ambassadorial Gaps, Mass Recalls, and the Erosion of U.S. Influence (2025–2026)
Overview
In late 2025 and early 2026, U.S. diplomacy faced a crisis as ambassadorial vacancies reached historic highs worldwide. This was triggered by the abrupt recall of 30 ambassadors, with chiefs of mission suddenly told their terms would end, leading to a sweeping change in diplomatic leadership. The American Foreign Service Association criticized these irregular and non-transparent actions. At the same time, the administration reshaped the diplomatic corps by adjusting promotion criteria, targeting diversity policies, and promoting individuals aligned with the 'America First' agenda. These moves marked a major shift in U.S. diplomatic strategy and weakened traditional norms.