WASHINGTON — A significant number of senior career diplomats at the State Department, who have held both politically appointed leadership roles and other lower-level positions, are resigning under the directive of the incoming Trump administration, which intends to appoint its own personnel, according to various U.S. officials, both current and former.
Personnel transitions among senior officials are typical following a presidential election, as career officials, just like non-career political appointees, are required to submit letters of resignation. However, it is notable that the incoming administration is seeking resignations from individuals in roles that are not politically nominated by the president.
Historically, some resignations have been deferred, allowing career officials to maintain their positions temporarily until the new president selects their team, which can help ensure continuity in the regular operations of government.
Lisa Kenna, one senior diplomat remaining in her role, briefly served as acting secretary of state shortly after Monday’s inauguration before Marco Rubio was confirmed as the official top diplomat. Following his confirmation, Kenna is expected to return to her former position as executive secretary.
As part of the transition, officials from the State Department’s global talent management team were engaged in notifying senior career diplomats to resign immediately on behalf of the Trump administration, as per a source familiar with the situation. This source, wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue, indicated that while such requests were anticipated, the number of diplomats targeted exceeded expectations.
It remains unclear how many non-political appointees were being asked to step down. While changes in personnel are expected during any administrative transition, these departures come at a particularly critical time in global affairs, especially regarding Ukraine and the Middle East. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, and urgent negotiations will be necessary next month to address an ongoing ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Therefore, the modifications within the upper echelons of the State Department and the White House National Security Council (NSC) could potentially have more pronounced effects than those observed during previous transitions.
Upon assuming office, President Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was set to begin an assessment of non-political career detailees at the NSC, according to another source familiar with the plans. This source also requested anonymity. New guidance for the affected NSC staff is expected to be provided shortly.
Earlier in the month, officials from the incoming Trump administration had inquired about the political affiliations of certain career civil servants, including details about their voting preferences in the 2024 election, contributions to political campaigns, and any potentially incriminating social media posts related to Trump’s administration, according to another accountable official. This individual also requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the subject matter.
The NSC serves as a crucial part of the White House, providing the president with advice on national security and foreign policy, while also ensuring coordination among various government entities. Typically, experts assigned to the NSC transition across administrations, regardless of political party shifts in the White House.
The staff members subjected to inquiries regarding their political loyalties mainly encompass specialized experts who have been temporarily detailed to the NSC from various federal agencies, such as the State Department, FBI, and CIA, often for stays lasting one to two years.
The considerations for these evaluations seem to counter earlier suggestions that the administration would implement immediate and drastic changes to the NSC staff as soon as they took office. Waltz previously indicated that “everyone will resign at 12:01 on January 20.” He expressed a desire for the NSC to be comprised of individuals “100% aligned with the president’s agenda.”
“We’re progressing through our clearance processes and transitional arrangements,” Waltz noted. “Our team is aware of who we want out in the agencies, and we are submitting those requests. All detailees will ultimately return to their original agencies.”
It remains uncertain whether the diplomats leaving the State Department were subjected to inquiries about their political loyalties, even though many of them have served across several administrations over the years.
Among those career diplomats reassigned are acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass, who was the No. 3 U.S. diplomat before Trump’s inauguration, alongside several other under secretaries responsible for management and policy matters, as well as all assistant secretaries state who focus on regional issues, according to three individuals familiar with the personnel changes, all speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Unless Trump acts swiftly to appoint replacements, many roles will likely be temporarily filled by the current subordinates of the outgoing officials—career diplomats with significant experience under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Despite these changes, it is anticipated that career diplomats will continue holding prominent positions within the State Department hierarchy, although the exact number remains uncertain.
The departing officials have not been outright dismissed; instead, they were notified last week that their pro forma resignations had been accepted. They will maintain their employment status at the State Department as foreign service officers unless they opt for retirement or choose to exit government service.
