In a bold push to streamline America’s foreign policy apparatus and cut wasteful spending, President Trump’s administration has initiated one of the largest structural reforms in the history of the State Department. The sweeping reorganization will eliminate or consolidate more than 130 offices, reduce domestic staffing by at least 15%, and significantly cut funding to international organizations that have long failed to serve U.S. interests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was appointed to lead the department during President Trump’s second term, announced the reforms as part of the administration’s broader “America First” diplomatic reset. The restructuring aims to reduce the number of bureaus and operational offices from 734 to just over 600. Of those, 137 offices will either be dissolved or relocated within the department for greater efficiency and accountability.
“This is a government agency that has grown far beyond its original mission,” Rubio said in a statement. “We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources. The American people deserve a leaner, smarter, and more focused foreign policy operation.”
Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department.
These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first. pic.twitter.com/CGWz3JrYwu
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 22, 2025
Alongside the staffing reductions and office closures, the State Department will also be implementing major budget cuts. Under the new plan, nearly half of the department’s overall budget will be slashed, and taxpayer contributions to global institutions like the United Nations, NATO headquarters, and other multinational entities will be significantly reduced. These reforms reflect growing frustration with international bodies that repeatedly undermine U.S. sovereignty and provide little in return for the billions America contributes annually.
The overhaul also includes plans to wind down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), redirecting funds away from globalist aid projects and back toward domestic priorities. Media entities such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, long criticized for straying from their core mission, are expected to face deep funding reductions or potential closure under the new framework.
This reorganization reflects President Trump’s consistent stance that U.S. foreign policy should serve American citizens—not global bureaucrats. For years, conservatives have argued that the State Department had become bloated, inefficient, and overly influenced by globalist ideology. The new plan is aimed squarely at restoring accountability and ensuring that every dollar spent on foreign affairs advances America’s core strategic goals.
Critics from the left are already voicing concern over the cuts, but supporters of the move see it as long overdue. Under previous administrations, the State Department ballooned in size and scope while delivering questionable results. From failed interventions to billions spent on foreign governments with little transparency, the need for reform has been evident.
Rubio emphasized that the focus of the State Department will now return to diplomacy, trade, and advancing U.S. interests abroad—without the distraction of bloated internal bureaucracies or ideological pet projects.
While some implementation details are still being finalized, the message from the Trump administration is clear: the days of bloated government and unchecked international spending are over. America’s foreign policy is being rebuilt from the ground up—to serve America first.