The Mining Journal published on 2 January 2026 an editorial titled "Trump's Mass Firing of Diplomats a Danger to US Standing."
At full complement, the United States has about 195 ambassadorships. Just before Christmas, the Trump administration fired 30 career ambassadors (as opposed to ambassadors appointed because of their political connections or campaign contributions). When added to the already 79 ambassadorial vacancies, this means that more than half of America's ambassadorial positions are now vacant. The editorial makes the point that so many ambassadorial vacancies provide an opportunity for adversaries like China and Russia to gain foreign policy advantages.
Comment: The overwhelming number of ambassadors appointed by the Trump administration so far have been political appointees. The prospect for career Foreign Service Officers to become ambassadors appears bleak, which contributes to the current demoralization of the career service.
