Trump’s State Department Reforms Are Necessary

These changes are a first step toward reorienting the institution for today’s geopolitical challenges

Scaffolding is seen on the U.S. Department of State headquarters on July 11. August 8, 2025, 11:40 AM Comment icon View Comments ( )

Trump’s Second Term

Ongoing reports and analysis

In July, the Trump administration enacted the most sweeping reorganization of the U.S. State Department in a generation, and the reaction from the mainstream media was overwhelmingly negative. But the State Department was badly in need of reform. The reorganization is the first step toward reinvigorating the department to advance U.S. interests for a more contentious period of geopolitics.

There was a time when the State Department developed and i

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