The State Department Needs To Be Streamlined - Not Starved by Mike Rogers, Washington Post
Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Russia: These are just some of the unresolved global crises that President Trump inherited. But the new administration is being forced to manage all these crises with one hand tied behind its back because it lacks a fully staffed State Department.
The president demonstrated that he intends to embark on an aggressive, forward-leaning, hard-power-based foreign policy with the strikes against Syria following the chemical weapons attack against civilians, the use of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) in Afghanistan, the tough posture toward North Korea and the devolution of greater authority to the military in operational theaters.
At the same time, in line with much of his campaign rhetoric, Trump has proposed a series of significant cuts at the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, while refraining from filling most of the appointed positions in Foggy Bottom.
The White House seems to think that military muscle and effective soft power are mutually exclusive — but in reality, the president can employ both at the same time. In fact, it is imperative that he does so for our country’s national security.
Does the State Department need reforming and streamlining? Yes.
Over the past few decades, the department has grown to include a number of offices and personnel that could be downsized and refocused. At times, Foggy Bottom has seemed entirely disconnected from the realities we face internationally — a rather surprising observation. The State Department was found wanting in Iraq and Afghanistan, unable to provide the personnel and expertise needed to support counterinsurgency campaigns in both countries. Yet, at the same time, the department had numerous duplicative outreach and grant programs in place around the world…