State Department Cuts Hurt American
Damaging support for U.S. business, jobs, and exports is yet another result of the ill-considered cuts at the State Department. American consumers, workers, farmers, and entrepreneurs across the country are going to suffer as a result.
Supporting U.S. exports and American businesses abroad is one of the most basic functions of our embassies and diplomats. It is a specific charge in the letter of instruction that each U.S. ambassador receives from POTUS at the start of their mission. It is an integral part of the work of the staff — U.S.-based and locally engaged — at each U.S. embassy and consulate as well as for the desk officers and others assigned to State Department offices in Washington. Moreover, these public servants work daily with Foreign Service colleagues in the Commerce Department’s Foreign Commercial Service and the FSOs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as with USTR, Treasury, EXIM, DFC, TDA, and other U.S. agencies to increase Americans’ prosperity.
Specifically, our ambassadors, Foreign Service Officers, and locally-engaged staff members
Identify specific export opportunities and flag them for U.S companies;
Develop market intelligence for every country where the U.S. has relations;
Aggressively advocate for U.S. firms with governments and others abroad, including with presidents and prime ministers;
Identify unfair, anti-competitive foreign trade and investment practices and work for their removal;
Spot and counter export promotion efforts by China and other aggressive competitor countries;
Help U.S. companies find great local partners, agents, and other reps;
Negotiate for open, fair business conditions for American firms and products;
Help American firms in trade disputes and facing unfair foreign government actions;
Inspect the quality of certain foods sent to the U.S. to protect American consumers; and
Provide consular services to American business people whenever needed.
Yet the July 11 cuts needlessly hurt State’s ability to carry out these jobs. For example, the State Department office that supports and promotes American farmers and agricultural exports is gone. The bureau that advanced Americans’ energy security was eliminated and experienced, highly expert public servants fired. Those are just two of the many, many ill-considered actions executed a week ago.
For Americans’ prosperity and economic well-being, as well as for our overall national security interests, last week’s cuts should be re-examined and in many cases reversed. It is not too late to call back these patriotic public servants.
Ambassador (ret.) Robert Cekuta is a four-decade veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service whose postings included Berlin, Tokyo, Albania, and the Middle East as well as senior positions in State and Ambassador to Azerbaijan. He is a member of The Steady State
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 300 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.