The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 33 FOCUS NOTES TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION Notes to the NEW ADMINISTRATI N Following the U.S. presidential election and by way of welcoming the new administration, The Foreign Service Journal invited Foreign Ser- vice members to share their suggestions for how diplomacy and development practitioners can best serve and advance America’s foreign policy interests during the coming months and years. In a Nov. 10 AFSAnet, we asked for concise answers to this question: “What is the one thing you want the new administration to know about the role—or potential role—of the Foreign Ser- vice?” Here are the suggestions from the U.S. Foreign Service for what the Trump team should know and do. –The Editors We Are Your Foreign Service The Foreign Service is your presence overseas. We implement your foreign policy. We sell your foreign priorities. We build and maintain foreign networks to help achieve your objectives and represent you to nearly 200 countries. So please integrate us into the decision-making ranks. Reduce the number of politically appointed ambassadors—we are thousands of trained, seasoned, top-notch diplomats ready to carry out your vision. We speak every official language in the world. We have worked in every country with which the United States has diplomatic ties. Reduce the number of special envoys, special advisers and special representatives—and instead recognize that we are capable, trustworthy and good stewards of taxpayer money. We would not expect nearly 40 percent of military leadership to be politically appointed; and neither should nearly 40 percent of America’s diplomatic leadership be politically appointed. In short, let us be the powerful force for peace that we were designed to be, and make great use of us. Don’t marginalize us. We are, after all, your Foreign Service. Sandrine Goffard FSO Springfield, Virginia Please End Political Corruption You have a golden opportunity to fulfill your campaign pledge to put a stop to corruption, cronyism and “business as usual” in Washington: End the disgraceful practice of rewarding per- sonal friends and donors with ambassadorships. Democratic and Republican presidents have been equally guilty in recent