US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the administration led by US President Donald Trump is reorganizing the US Department of State (DASH).
This decision was made, according to Rubio, in order to eliminate offices that the Trump administration considers redundant and to cut some programs that it says do not align with US interests, A2 reports.
"This approach will strengthen the Department from the ground up, from offices to embassies," Rubio said in a statement, describing the moves as part of Trump's agenda to put the United States first.
"Regional-specific functions will be consolidated to increase functionality, redundant offices will be eliminated, and non-statutory programs that are not consistent with America's core national interests will cease to exist," Rubio said.
The work previously performed by the Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Human Rights and Democracy will now be placed under a new Coordinator for Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs, he added.
Rubio, who also serves as supervisor of the crumbling USAID administration, criticized the department's growth over the years, calling it "bloated, bureaucratic and incapable of carrying out its core diplomatic mission in this new era of great power competition."
This reorganization comes after Trump in February ordered changes to the US Foreign Service - the country's diplomatic corps - to ensure it followed his foreign policy agenda.
US officials said in March that the department was also preparing to close nearly a dozen consulates. But Rubio's announcement made no mention of the consulates./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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