Executive Order 14211Executive Order

One Voice for America's Foreign Relations

Donald J. Trump

Signed: Feb 12, 2025

Published: Feb 18, 2025

Defense & National Security

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview

This executive order, titled "One Voice for America's Foreign Relations," establishes a framework to ensure that all personnel involved in implementing U.S. foreign policy faithfully execute the President's directives. Issued on February 12, 2025, it emphasizes that foreign policy authority resides with the President under Article II of the Constitution and directs the Secretary of State to reform personnel practices to align with this principle. The order could significantly centralize control over foreign policy implementation, potentially affecting how diplomatic personnel are managed and disciplined.

Key Points

1Reaffirms Presidential Authority**: Explicitly states that all foreign policy implementation must occur under the President's direction, with failure to comply constituting grounds for disciplinary action, including termination.
2Defines Key Personnel**: Clarifies terms such as "Foreign Service," "Civil Service employee," and "other staff" to specify who falls under these provisions, including both U.S. and locally employed staff abroad.
3Empowers the Secretary of State**: Grants the Secretary sole discretion to initiate personnel actions (e.g., disciplinary measures or referrals to the President) against employees who do not faithfully implement presidential policy.
4Mandates Foreign Service Reform**: Requires the Secretary to reform recruiting, performance evaluation, retention standards, and training programs (e.g., through the Foreign Service Institute) to ensure alignment with the President's agenda.
5Limits Legal Challenges**: Specifies that the order does not create any enforceable rights or benefits for individuals against the U.S. government, shielding it from certain legal disputes.

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