Diplomats urge State Department to loosen security rules and adopt risk-managed approach

American diplomats are disgruntled by President Donald Trump’s perceived contempt for the professional foreign service and the recent closure of several U.S. embassies, arguing that sheer numbers of posts and personnel do not ensure success. The State Department, which started with only London and Paris missions in 1789, now maintains 276 posts across 174 countries, yet security policies—shaped after 1980s Iranian-backed attacks—confine officials to fortified compounds and armored vehicles, restricting their ability to understand local conditions.

This is especially problematic in volatile regions such as Ukraine, Libya, and Lebanon. In contrast, UNHCR employees in those countries reside in ordinary apartments, commute daily, and receive real-time threat alerts, allowing them to stay attuned to on-the-ground realities despite occasional casualties. Michael Rubin argues that Secretary of State Marco Rubio should focus on dismantling the over-cautious security regime and adopt UNHCR’s risk-management philosophy rather than pursuing a zero-risk stance.