State Department cut jobs with deep expertise in Middle East as Iran crisis escalates

Where did the experts go? State Department cuts limit the Iran war effort

The widening war in Iran is exposing big gaps at the State Department, especially in the bureau that handles the Middle East. In recent weeks, officials say, the Trump administration has cut staff, left key leadership jobs vacant and relied…

How State Department cuts of Middle East experts affect U.S.'s handling of Iran war

In the escalating war in Iran, the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the center of the geopolitical fray.

What the Iran Crisis Means for Middle Powers

For solidarity among the world's middle powers to matter, it must be used to create a new system of states that are governed by the rule of law and committed to democratic norms and principles. The alternative is a world governed by power alone, where dependence is weaponized, and public consent becomes an inconvenience.

Hollowed-out State Department strains to manage the Iran war, officials say

Personnel and management choices — coupled with President Donald Trump’s moves to shrink government and confine decision-making to a tight circle — are limiting the ability of the United States to handle a global emergency, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former U.S. officials.

State Department denies claims that staff cuts have hindered Iran war response

In the escalating war in Iran, the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the center of the geopolitical fray.Typically led by a veteran diplomat, the bureaus role would be to coordinate U.S. foreign policy across an 18-country region, much of which has become a chaotic battlefield scarred by drone and missile strikes as the U.S. and Israel remain locked in conflict with Iran.The Trump administration for a time p…

Trump administration’s downsizing leaves US diplomats short-handed in Middle East crisis

In the escalating war in Iran, the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the center of the geopolitical fray.Typically led by a veteran diplomat, the bureaus role would be to coordinate U.S. foreign policy across an 18-country region, much of which has become a chaotic battlefield scarred by drone and missile strikes as the U.S. and Israel remain locked in conflict with Iran.The Trump administration for a time p…