Morale among US diplomats is in freefall as the Trump administration slashes spending and upends traditional norms and practices, according to a new survey from the American Foreign Service Association.
Overall, 98% of American foreign service officers reported lower morale since US President Donald Trump returned to office, the survey found, while 86% said it had become harder to do their jobs.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “values candid insights from patriotic Americans who have chosen to serve their country,” adding that Rubio’s recent reorganization of the department helped “ensure those on the front lines — the regional bureaus and the embassies — are in a position to impact policies.”
The role of the diplomat has also been undermined, separate pieces noted in the Financial Times: The US has moved from an age of diplomacy to “the age of the envoy,” the outlet’s foreign editor wrote, prioritizing short-term dealmaking over long-term expertise. “No conflict shoddily mediated by fixers and compromised officials operating outside formal channels will produce a well-structured peace,” one expert warned.
“Every administration has had special envoys — that is not new,” Pigott said. “Those complaining are either unable or unwilling to find a way to be productive or contribute.”