Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say

"The Trump administration has quietly recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and other senior overseas diplomats as the Trump administration plans to promote appointees loyal to the new administration to higher levels of the state department, according to diplomatic sources. The recall of the ambassadors or heads of mission, which were confirmed by several current and former senior diplomats, was unusual for targeting career foreign service officers heading embassies overseas who are generally left in place after a change in administration because they strive to be apolitical."

"The plans to recall the US diplomats were first reported by Politico. A partial list of the removals was first reported by the Associated Press. A union representing US diplomats said it was deeply concerned by the process and numerous US diplomats told the Guardian that they believed the promotions process had been weighed to elevate diplomats seen as friendly to the administration."

Nearly 30 U.S. ambassadors and other senior overseas diplomats were quietly recalled as the administration plans to promote appointees loyal to its leadership into higher State Department positions. The recalls targeted career Foreign Service officers who are generally left in place after administrations because they strive to be apolitical. Critics say the action seeks to oust a perceived deep state and has been called a purge of professional civil servants. A senior State Department official said recalls are standard, that ambassadors are presidential representatives tasked with advancing the America First agenda, and that recalled envoys would be reassigned rather than fired. The AFSA and diplomats expressed concern about politicizing promotions.

Read at www.theguardian.com