Trump orders American diplomats to speak "With one voice"

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump issued a decree in which he ordered the diplomatic corps to speak “with one voice” by adhering to the directives of his administration, under penalty of disciplinary measures against them, including their separation, in a new episode of his comprehensive reform series of the federal government.

The Republican President said in an executive order that “all officials or all creditors should implement the foreign policy of the United States (…) to do so under the supervision and power of the president.”

He added in the decree and its title, “One Voice for the American Foreign Relations” that “the failure to implement the president’s policy honestly is a reason to take disciplinary action” against the violator “including the chapter” of the job.

The executive order is targeting all workers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whether they are diplomats or civilian employees in this huge ministry, which includes up to 80,000 employees all over the world.

The executive comes at a time when Trump has frozen US foreign aid, with a few exceptions, and the US Agency for International Development “USD” almost completely.

According to the executive order, Trump instructed Foreign Minister Marco Rubio “reforming the external service to ensure the faithful and effective implementation of the president’s foreign policy.”

Under the decree, a “review or replacement of guidance or guidelines”, which contradict the president’s policy, should be conducted.

It is natural for government employees to implement their superiors, especially diplomats among them, but putting this in a decree is unusual.

In another decree signed on Tuesday evening, Trump gave the “Ministry of Governmental efficiency” headed by Elon Musk the right of the veto against any employment in the civil service, stressing that any employment should be “consulting” with it. (Sky News)