#foreignservice

Today, Acting Director General of the #ForeignService William Todd addressed the 143rd #CivilService Orientation Class. He thanked the class for their thoughtful questions and commitment to @statedept and the United States.

### A Decades‑Long Decline: How U.S. Diplomacy Lost Its Edge The United States’ diplomatic deterioration is not a byproduct of the Trump administration; it is rooted in systemic issues that stretch back at least two generations. Recent revelations about high‑profile patronage appointments, such as those of Witkoff and Kushner, illuminate a broader pattern of political interference, chronic budget reductions, and eroding respect for career foreign‑service officers. Congressional inertia and a shrinking institutional culture have compounded these problems, signaling a crisis that predates the 45th president and threatens America’s ability to project influence abroad. #### Key Takeaways - **Historical continuity**: Diplomatic decline began well before 2017, embedded in long‑standing patronage practices. - **Patronage appointments**: High‑visibility hires like Witkoff and Kushner exemplify a wider trend of political favoritism over merit. - **Budget constraints**: Persistent cuts to State Department funding have weakened operational capacity and morale. - **Erosion of professional norms**: Respect for career diplomats has waned, undermining expertise and continuity. - **Congressional stagnation**: Legislative inaction on diplomatic reforms perpetuates the systemic flaws. - **Strategic repercussions**: Diminished diplomatic efficacy hampers U.S. influence in an increasingly multipolar world. [Read Full Article](https://news.ababil360.com/2026/04/11/americas-problem-with-diplomacy-a-pre-trump-legacy-exposed/) #USDiplomacy #ForeignService #PatronagePolitics #DiplomaticBudgetCuts #CongressionalOversight #USForeignPolicy #InstitutionalDecline #DiplomacyCrisis #HistoricalContinuity #newsababil360

Great to be back with my favorite Georgetown Professor who also became my boss at the Dept of State. Secretary Albright, thank you for continuing to be a mentor, making me laugh out loud with your hilarious stories and wicked sense of humor. 💙🤍 #hoyasaxa #foreignservice #diplomacy #64 #GOAT (at Georgetown University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQkV2ZUjRNuWX5vDlmhKykeV6l_IGFFQyXP_b00/?utm_medium=tumblr

Great to be back with my favorite Georgetown Professor who also became my boss at the Dept of State. Secretary Albright, thank you for continuing to be a mentor, making me laugh out loud with your hilarious stories and wicked sense of humor. 💙🤍 #hoyasaxa #foreignservice #diplomacy #64 #GOAT (at Georgetown University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQkV2ZUjRNuWX5vDlmhKykeV6l_IGFFQyXP_b00/?utm_medium=tumblr

📣Aspiring Diplomats and Foreign Service Officers 📣 The February Foreign Service Officer Test has officially ended and the hosts of 'How Did We Not Know That' will be sharing their experiences preparing for and taking the test! We will be going live on Youtube next Friday, February 19th at 8pm EST https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfI0avdCh2hMj8yPqwICuGg Chat will be open for questions, and you can also tweet us @HDWNKT or email us at [email protected] earlier 🥳 Recording of the event will be shared with our Patrons https://www.patreon.com/HowDidWeNotKnowThat #hdwnkt #fsot #diplomat #foreignservice #testprep https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHb9sABo_c/?igshid=zrtevlnzsg8x

President-elect Joe Biden has nominated a career diplomat, Ambassador William Burns, as the Director of CIA. The transition team of Biden announced the nomination on Monday.