The Trump administration has requested multiple U.S. ambassadors appointed under President Biden to vacate their posts by mid-January 2026, according to a statement from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) released on December 20, 2025. The move has sparked concerns about the politicization of diplomatic roles and its potential impact on U.S. global credibility.
AFSA reported that career diplomats received abrupt phone calls over a 36-hour period instructing them to leave their positions by January 15 or 16, 2026, without explanation. The association criticized the removals as 'unjustified,' warning that prioritizing political loyalty over constitutional oaths and experience could destabilize international trust in U.S. foreign policy.
This development follows historical patterns of diplomatic reshuffles during U.S. presidential transitions but marks an unusually swift timeline. AFSA has urged bipartisan leaders to safeguard the nonpartisan integrity of the foreign service, emphasizing that professional diplomacy remains critical to addressing global challenges in Asia and beyond.
