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State Department notifies Congress of 'America First' reorganization plan
Summary
The Secretary of State said the U.S. Department of State has notified Congress of a reorganization plan the administration calls an "America First" State Department, following an April announcement and after seeking feedback from lawmakers, bureaus and long-serving employees.
The Secretary of State said the U.S. Department of State notified Congress of a reorganization plan intended to build an "America First" State Department to address what the secretary described as 21st-century challenges.
The announcement, the secretary said, is the next step after an April reorganization proposal and follows what he called "thoughtful and deliberative work by senior department leadership," with input from lawmakers, bureau staff and long-serving employees.
According to the secretary, domestic operations at the State Department have "grown exponentially" over the past quarter century, creating "more bureaucracy, higher costs, and fewer results for the American people." He said the reorganization is aimed at creating "a more agile department better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world." The secretary said the department must "move move at the speed of relevancy," language used in the transcript.
The transcript indicates the department submitted a written notification of the plan to Congress; the secretary characterized that submission as the "next step" in the reorganization process. The remarks say the plan was shaped by feedback from "lawmakers, bureaus, and long serving employees," but the transcript does not specify which congressional committees, which bureaus, or a timetable for congressional review.
The April announcement of a broad reorganization was mentioned in the remarks as the earlier public step in the process. The transcript does not include details on specific structural changes, budget effects, implementation dates, or whether statutory changes are required. It also does not record any vote, comment from members of Congress, or a timeline for review.
Observers and stakeholders seeking specifics on the plan, its legal basis, or implementation schedule will need to consult the formal notification submitted to Congress or subsequent public documents; the transcript does not specify those documents or dates.
