THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH-APRIL 2026 11 Those recalled were serving in Algeria, Egypt, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Nepal, the Philippines, Slovakia, Somalia, Vietnam, and elsewhere. Only three posts had a nominee identified to succeed the recalled chief of mission. Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee echoed AFSA’s concerns in a letter urging Trump to reverse the decision. Led by Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D–N.H.), the signatories warned that the recall of so many career ambassadors could create a “vacuum in U.S. leadership” that threatens national security and the safety of U.S. citizens and businesses overseas. The letter cautioned that the absence of ambassadors at more than 100 U.S. embassies could provide openings for adversaries such as China and Russia to expand their influence. Critics argue that leaving key posts without Senate-confirmed chiefs of mission, alongside ongoing leadership gaps in Washington, risks politicizing a traditionally nonpartisan corps and undermining America’s ability to project influence at a time of heightened global competition. U.S. Withdraws from 66 International Organizations On January 7, President Donald Trump directed the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, expanding on a February 2025 executive order that required a government-wide review of U.S. participation in multilateral institutions. The decision formalizes U.S. withdrawal from 35 non– United Nations (UN) organizations and 31 UN entities, with additional reviews still underway. The memorandum directs executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate withdrawal as soon as possible. For UN entities, withdrawal is defined as ceasing participation or funding to the extent permitted by law. The list of rejected organizations includes major climate, development, and governance bodies, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, the UN Population Fund, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the International Renewable Energy Agency, as well as the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the Peacebuilding Commission, and the UN Register of Conventional Arms. Additionally, on January 22, the U.S. formally withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), following a January 21, 2025, executive order signed by President Trump initiating the removal process. This ended nearly 80 years of membership. In a statement released on January 7, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Site of the Month: Project Resource Optimization The appearance of a particular site or podcast is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement. Amid sweeping disruptions to U.S. foreign assistance in early 2025, a new platform emerged to prevent lifesaving aid from disappearing overnight. Project Resource Optimization (PRO) was launched in February 2025 to help donors identify and sustain the most cost-effective global health and humanitarian programs placed at risk by abrupt USAID funding cuts. Founded by former USAID economists Caitlin Tulloch and Rob Rosenbaum, PRO evaluates and analyzes aid programs and connects them with private philanthropy. In less than a year, the initiative has helped mobilize more than $110 million, sustaining nearly 80 projects across 30 countries and reaching more than 40 million people worldwide. PRO focuses primarily on interventions with immediate, measurable impact, such as childhood immunization, treatment of acute malnutrition, and emergency health services in humanitarian crises. As Tulloch and Rosenbaum explained in an interview with PBS NewsHour, many of these programs had already procured vaccines or nutrition supplies when funding was cut, leaving lifesaving assistance stranded in warehouses just as needs were intensifying in places such as Sudan. PRO draws on expertise from former leadership at USAID’s Office of the Chief Economist and Development Innovation Ventures. Its analytical work is hosted by the Center for Global Development, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on evidence-based decision-making and accountability. Learn more about their efforts at https://proimpact.tools.
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