The weekend was marked by unrest in the U.S. diplomatic corps following the circulation of an alleged draft executive order that called for a drastic restructuring of the State Department. The proposal, although officially rejected as false by Secretary Marco Rubio, sparked panic, and speculation among diplomats by signaling deep cuts and a radical redesign of American diplomacy.

Obtained by Politico, the unidentified document, which proposed the extinction of entire departments, such as African Affairs and Democracy and Human Rights, in addition to suggesting the closure of consulates in sub-Saharan Africa and the reduction of the presence in Canada, caused perplexity among officials of the ministry. Despite not following the standard format of executive orders and containing legal and logistical inconsistencies, its mere circulation was enough to light a widespread warning signal.

The episode highlights the climate of mistrust and insecurity that has permeated the State Department since the Trump administration announced its intention to reduce the government machine in the name of "efficiency". The promise of budget cuts of almost 50% in the budget of the ministry and USAID, in addition to other reformulation proposals already taken to Congress, gives ballast to the concerns of civil servants, even in the face of the official denial of the content of the draft.

More than a technical debate about institutional organization, the episode opens a political clash over the role of the United States in the world. The proposal — even if unofficial — to centralize decisions about Africa in the White House and deactivate diplomatic representations, added to the elimination of strategic areas such as human rights and conflict stabilization, suggests a more concentrated, less institutionalized foreign policy vision and less focused on the promotion of democratic values.

While the document does not represent a definitive plan, it acts as a reflection of the State Department's turbulent transition — torn between rumors, poorly communicated reforms, and a diplomatic base uneasy about the possible dismantling of its global performance. The expectation now falls on the official announcements promised for the next few days, which could confirm or deny the fears exposed by this enigmatic and disturbing draft.