The Association of Black American Ambassadors (ABAA) expresses grave concern regarding the decision of President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio to gut the world’s best and most effective diplomatic corps through a Reduction in Force (RIF) effective July 11.  The administration’s approach represents the worst kind of bureaucratic slash-and-burn tactics. True reform requires careful analysis, strategic planning, and preservation of core capabilities. Instead, this reorganization appears driven by ideological considerations rather than operational necessity or strategic thinking.

This reduction in force will also seriously undermine our country’s global diplomatic presence and readiness and will provide a strategic opening for our most aggressive adversaries at a time of heightened regional tensions.   

The ABAA calls upon Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities and thoroughly investigate the rationale, methodology, and potential consequences of these reductions. The American people deserve transparency about how these decisions were made and what safeguards exist to protect critical diplomatic functions.

The ABAA stands in strong support of the affected personnel and their families.

July 11, 2025