Changes at State Department Lead to Questions About Its Mission - VOA

[TomSea]

Changes at State Department Lead to Questions About Its Mission
August 06, 2017 0:15 AM

    Cindy Saine
    Marissa Melton

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers remarks at the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Day Memorial Plaque Ceremony at the Department in Washington, May 5, 2017.

STATE DEPARTMENT —

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is defending his efforts to redesign the State Department, but the process has left many of its 36,000 employees in Washington and around the world feeling anxious about their mission.

Tillerson was welcomed warmly to the State Department six months ago. But some current and former ambassadors and foreign policy experts say they are worried about a number of indications that the Trump administration plans to lower the priority of promoting democracy and human rights in U.S. foreign policy.

Unspent engagement money

Take, for example, the $80 million in unused cash designated by Congress for the Global Engagement Center, which works to counteract disinformation campaigns by terrorist groups and foreign countries such as North Korea, China, and Russia.

Continued: https://www.voanews.com/a/state-department-changes-questions-about-mission/3974196.html

Elliott Abrams served in foreign policy positions in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, specializing in humanitarian affairs and international cooperation. He told The Washington Post, “That change is a serious mistake that ought to be corrected. ... If not, the message being sent will be a great comfort to every dictator in the world.”

[GtHawk]

Yeah, well maybe a good number of those employees are concerned because their gravy train might come to an end, no more money for nuthin and shit for free.