Diplomacy Disrupted: How Cuts to U.S. Agencies Are Reshaping Foreign Policy
Thu, Jul 17
|Zoom
How do government staffing and budget cuts at national security and foreign policy institutions affect America's ability to lead through diplomacy rather than force? Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for a free, public webinar with experts from the American Foreign Service Association.
Time & Location
Jul 17, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
Zoom
About the event
In a series of sweeping and controversial moves, in early 2025 the Trump Administration dismissed thousands of government employees across key institutions that form the backbone of America’s national security, humanitarianism, and global engagement. These included the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State, the Voice of America (VOA), the National Security Council, and several other critical agencies. The scale and speed of these personnel cuts have raised urgent questions about the future of U.S. diplomacy, international development, and the country’s ability to project soft power on the global stage.
Yet, in a striking reversal, on June 13, the Voice of America reinstated dozens of Farsi-speaking journalists who had previously been placed on administrative leave by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This sudden pivot suggests that broadcasting to audiences in Iran has become an unexpected priority, highlighting the Administration’s shifting strategic focus and the complex interplay…
