The Biden administration may face another shake-up in U.S. foreign policy as a leaked draft executive order reveals plans by President Donald Trump to drastically reduce the country’s diplomatic presence in Africa.
The draft order, obtained by AFP, outlines sweeping changes to the U.S. State Department, including the elimination of the Bureau of African Affairs. In its place, a new “Special Envoy Office for African Affairs” would report directly to the White House’s National Security Council, bypassing the State Department entirely.
“All non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa shall be closed,” the document reads, with remaining operations consolidated under targeted deployments focused on counterterrorism and resource extraction.
The proposal also calls for a reorganization of U.S. diplomatic regions into four zones: Eurasia, Middle East, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific — leaving Africa without dedicated representation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the report as “fake news” in a post on X, accusing *The New York Times* of falling for a hoax. Nonetheless, AFP confirmed the draft’s contents and its stated goal of aligning U.S. foreign engagement with an “America First Strategic Doctrine.”
Other major cuts include the closure of State Department offices dedicated to climate change, human rights, and global criminal justice. Programs like the Fulbright scholarship, which supports academic exchange, would be heavily scaled back. Agencies such as USAID and the disinformation-tracking Global Engagement Center have already been dismantled under the administration.
Critics warn the shift marks a significant retreat from U.S. soft power. Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, called the plan “a self-inflicted wound,” adding, “We’re ceding the field to countries like Russia and China, who are more than ready to fill the gap.”
Additionally, the draft includes plans to significantly reduce the U.S. presence in Canada — a historic ally. The U.S. embassy in Ottawa would be scaled down, echoing Trump’s past remarks suggesting Canada should become America’s 51st state.
While the White House has not publicly confirmed the draft, the document signals a clear pivot toward reduced global engagement and a focus on national priorities.
