The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is moving to recall dozens of American diplomats worldwide from embassies whose appointments were made during the tenure of his predecessor, Joe Biden. The recalls, expected to take effect in mid-January, are reported to affect missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. So far, there is no official figure or public list of those impacted, leaving uncertainty over whether the measure applies solely to career diplomats or also includes ambassadors.
According to accounts from affected officials, several notifications were delivered abruptly—often by phone—and without formal explanations. The American Foreign Service Association described the process as highly unusual, noting that career diplomats are not typically recalled in this manner. A senior official at the United States Department of State, however, defended the move as standard procedure, emphasizing that ambassadors serve as personal representatives of the president and that the administration has the right to ensure its missions advance an “America First” agenda.
The issue has intensified debate because, while it is customary for new administrations to replace politically appointed ambassadors, mass removals of career diplomats are far less common, with reassignment within the foreign service usually preferred. The professional association warned of a gradual erosion of the foreign service’s professional independence and cautioned that such practices could undermine U.S. credibility abroad by signaling that political loyalty may outweigh experience, constitutional oath, and institutional continuity.
