Is the Chaos at the State Department Over?

American Diplomat podcast, hosted by Arizona State University, posted on 8 May 2025 a 40-minute program titled "Is the Chaos at State Over?" with Tibor Nagy, a retired career Foreign Service Officer who served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs in the first Trump administration and for the first three months of the current Trump administration as the acting undersecretary of state for management.

The podcast focused on reorganization and reform of the State Department and Foreign Service.  The DOGE team showed up early in the administration before Secretary of State Marco Rubio's small staff could get their feet on the ground.  This was followed by an avalanche of executive orders from the White House.  Chaos followed. Rubio demonstrated his independence from DOGE early when he said State Department personnel did not have to respond to its request for a list of five things each employee had accomplished in the past week.  

Tibor explained that USAID will be folded into the State Department, although many questions remain as to how its functions will be organized.  He acknowledged that the way USAID was dismantled by DOGE was chaotic and heartless.  There were initially huge screwups, but these have been largely overcome.

Tibor argues that the chaos is over in the State Department now that DOGE has moved on.  He added that it makes sense to combine some of the functions that were previously done in separate offices.  There was too much duplication and inefficiency.  

When asked what the Department of State will look like at the end of the Trump administration, he thought it would be better prepared to deal with the foreign policy issues the United States faces in the 21st century.  Artificial intelligence and new technology are changing the way the Department will operate and it is essential to adapt to the new situation. 

When asked about closing embassies and consulates, Tibor said the US diplomatic presence should be as universal as possible but added it is not necessary to have an embassy everywhere.  He suggested there is no need, for example, to have an embassy in Luxembourg, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Comoro Islands.  Some embassies are overstaffed and can be reduced in size while others may be short staffed.

Tibor admitted that morale in the State Department at the beginning of this process was terrible, but suggested much of the uncertainty has been removed and morale is now much improved.  

Comment:  While there are clearly components of the State Department that need reorganization and reform, Tibor is far more optimistic than I am that the changes currently underway will by the end of the Trump administration result in a more efficient and effective foreign policy process.    

USAID Needed a Scalpel, Not a Chainsaw

 The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal published on 10 April 2025 a commentary titled "Surgery? Yes. Chainsaw? No. How Not to Reform the U.S. Government" by Tibor Nagy, until recently the acting Under Secretary of State for Management.

The author, an eyewitness to the process, explains that reforming the US Agency for International Development required the scalpel of a surgeon, not the chainsaw of a lumber jack.  He takes sharp issue with the approach Elon Musk and DOGE pursued in the dismantlement of the organization.  

US To Appoint Senior Sudan Advisor

Foreign Policy posted on 10 June 2019 an article titled "Accused of Inaction, Trump Team Set to Appoint Sudan Advisor" by Robbie Gramer and Justin Lynch.

In response to criticism that the United States is not sufficiently engaged in trying to resolve the crisis in Sudan, the Trump Administration reportedly will name former ambassador Donald Booth as senior advisor on Sudan to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

US Policy in Africa

Tibor Nagy, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, testified on 12 December 2018 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on US policy towards Africa. His remarks were titled "Development, Diplomacy, and Defense: Promoting U.S. Interests in Africa."

Nagy repeated many of the Africa policy themes that were common in previous administrations. There was one change concerning China, which he said is asserting itself in Africa economically, militarily, and politically. As a result, the US must remain a positive alternative, and make clear that engaging with the United States will mean greater prosperity and security for Africa.

New US Head of African Affairs Faces Challenging Environment

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 23 August 2018 a commentary titled "America's New Africa Chief Inherits a Rudderless Ship" by Peter Fabricius, ISS consultant.

The author cites some of the challenges facing new Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, as he takes charge of the Africa portfolio. One possible silver lining is that the White House will largely ignore Africa, giving Nagy a free hand to determine Africa policy.