US reorganizes State Department in line with Trump foreign policy

The US has announced a historic reorganization of its foreign policy as President Donald Trump pushes on with his agenda to align the American workforce activities and programs with the America First foreign policy priorities.
Speaking at the weekly briefing on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that this significant restructuring is taking shape following the Supreme Court’s recent near-unanimous decision to allow the reorganization to commence.
Bruce said the reorganization is geared towards enhancing the department’s effectiveness and relevance, emphasizing that the changes are not about targeting individuals but about improving the department’s structure.
Secretary Marco Rubio announced the reorganization plan on 22 April, saying it was being developed with extensive feedback from Congress and the workforce itself.
“The Supreme Court’s recent near-unanimous decision allows the reorganization to commence and will ensure that the department moves at the speed of relevancy and restores the department to its roots of results-driven democracy,” Bruce told reporters.
“This is not a matter of the individual being targeted or an individual not being right. This is about being able to be effective due to the size of the organization and to the structure of the organization.
“It is a statement about a structure that needs to adapt, that must be smaller in order for us to be relevant, but even more than relevant – effective, quick. We’ve seen even just in these past five months how quickly things can change and what can happen when you move at the speed of relevancy.
“It has been a remarkable experience to see how this building works, how the people work together, moving forward to promote and to implement American foreign policy through the commitment and their patriotism,” she said.
Donald Trump’s vision
This reorganization aligns with President Trump’s second-term policy shift, which emphasizes a more streamlined and results-driven approach to foreign policy driven [by] the America First mantra.
“Certainly the decision that the American people made last year that Donald Trump’s vision about what the world should be in the context of how America can be great again and what we can contribute as Americans, that when something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic to actually function and to deliver projects or action, it has to change.”
This move marks a new chapter for the State Department, promising to align US activities and programs with the priorities of President Trump’s vision for a more effective and relevant diplomatic effort.
Since his inauguration on 20 January 2025 for his second term, Trump has put out several key policy changes to reflect his ideas to streamline American policies under the State Department to enhance relevance and results-driven democracy.
During Thursday’s briefing, Bruce also addressed the media on the following broad areas, which the Trump administration is focusing on.
Indo-Pacific relations: Reaffirming its commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific as demonstrated by Secretary Rubio’s participation in ASEAN-related meetings and bilateral engagements with leaders from Malaysia, Russia, Japan, and the Philippines. The meetings highlight the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, which accounts for two-thirds of global growth.
Nuclear cooperation with Malaysia: Advancing civil nuclear energy collaboration with Malaysia by signing a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to promote the highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation in nuclear energy.
Supporting democracy in Cuba: Supporting freedom and democracy in Cuba, marking the fourth anniversary of the Cuban regime’s July 11th crackdown, which constitutes US-imposed sanctions on the Cuban leadership for human rights violations, and emphasizing accountability.
Sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur: The US-imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese for her abuse of her role and targeting US companies in what has been termed as an unacceptable campaign of political and economic warfare.
Travel advisory for Iran: A new awareness campaign was launched to warn Americans, especially Americans of Iranian descent, about the severe risks of traveling to Iran in the wake of the Iranian regime’s denial of consular services to detained US citizens, which remains a key concern on the safety and security of American citizens abroad.
Tarrifs policy, renegotiating trade
President Trump has strengthened his tariff plan on imports as a way of protecting American industries, promoting domestic manufacturing, and encouraging job growth, arguing that the tariffs will reduce the trade deficit between the US and other countries.
The tariffs target different goods, including steel, aluminum, and certain consumer products, in a bid to level the playing field for American manufacturers facing unfair competition from foreign producers.
Apart from the tariffs, the Trump administration is actively negotiating new trade agreements that prioritize American interests to “remain competitive and [ensure] that jobs are preserved for American workers.”
The decision to reintroduce tariffs has been met with mixed reactions, and while supporters agree with Trump’s argument on the protection of American jobs and industries from unfair trade practices, critics warn that this could lead to higher prices for consumers and potential retaliation from trading partners.
However, despite these concerns, the administration remains steadfast in its commitment to the America First economic agenda.
As the tariff policy gathers momentum, the benefits of this broad focus on strengthening the American economy remain to be seen.
“We believe that these tariffs are a crucial part of that effort and that they will help to create a more prosperous and secure future for our country,” State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce concluded her press briefing.