State Dept. Expands Plans for Closing Embassies and Consulates
A departmental memo describes paring back the American diplomatic presence on every continent.
State Department
Pete Marocco, Who Helped Gut Foreign Aid for Trump, Leaves State Department
Pete Marocco oversaw the cutting of thousands of contracts at U.S.A.I.D. and the firing of most of its roughly 10,000 workers. Aid agency employees have accused him of mismanagement.
Trump Administration Fires U.S. Aid Workers in Quake Zone in Myanmar
The move comes despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the U.S. would still do some humanitarian work while shrinking foreign aid. Democratic lawmakers have denounced the cuts.
In Burisma Letter, Hunter Biden Sought Support from State Department
While Joe Biden was vice president, his son used the letterhead of a Ukrainian energy company when writing to a U.S. ambassador with ties to the family.
Rubio Orders U.S. Diplomats to Scour Student Visa Applicants’ Social Media
The order comes as President Trump expands deportation efforts, including of students who have spoken out in support of Palestinians during Israel’s war in Gaza.
Appeals Court Allows Musk to Keep Pushing Steep Cuts at U.S.A.I.D.
The appeals court panel said that whatever influence Elon Musk and DOGE had, it was ultimately agency officials who had signed off on the various moves to gut the agency.
Rubio Says He Has Revoked 300 or More Visas in Trump’s Deportation Push
The secretary of state said he was trying to expel “lunatics” who had taken part in campus movements, as well as criminals. Some are permanent U.S. residents.
Trump Administration Moves to Eliminate USAID With Final Cuts
The staff of U.S.A.I.D. will be reduced to some 15 legally required positions. The agency employed about 10,000 people before the Trump administration entered office.
Marco Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Attacking Guyana Over ExxonMobil Deal
As ExxonMobil produces oil offshore in Guyana, Venezuela has asserted claims to a large region of the country, recently sending a naval vessel into the waters.
Marco Rubio Says Someone in Signal Chat Made ‘Big Mistake’ in Adding Journalist
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no “war plans” had been divulged in the group chat in which he took part. Chat texts published by The Atlantic show detailed information on the planned strikes in Yemen.