WASHINGTON, Feb 13: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered the "reform" of the US diplomatic corps, effectively curtailing any dissent against his policies, as he continues his vast overhaul of the federal government.
In an executive order, Trump said that the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will "reform the Foreign Service and the administration of foreign relations to ensure faithful and effective implementation of the President's foreign policy agenda."
He warned that all staff employed by the State Department to carry out US foreign policy "do so under the direction and authority of the President."
"Failure to faithfully implement the President's policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation," the order, entitled "One Voice For America's Foreign Relations," continued.
The order targets both career diplomats and the thousands of civilians at the State Department, a vast entity with up to 80,000 employees worldwide. —AFP
