The Trump administration has ordered the recall of nearly thirty career U.S. diplomats serving as ambassadors and in senior embassy posts as part of a broader effort to reshape American diplomatic representation abroad.

The chiefs of mission affected were notified that their tenures would end in January, with plans for them to return to Washington for reassignment or other roles within the State Department, officials said.

All of those recalled were career Foreign Service officers who assumed their postings during the Biden administration and had initially remained in place after Trump’s return to the White House.

The move marks a significant personnel shift deep into Trump’s second term and reflects his administration’s intent to ensure that senior embassy leadership closely supports its foreign policy agenda.

Africa has been the most impacted region, with ambassadors in a number of countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and others receiving recall notices.

Additional reassignment directives were issued for envoys in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere, underscoring the global reach of the decision.

Although the diplomats will remain Foreign Service officers, the recalls effectively end their current ambassadorial assignments early.

The State Department defended the decision as routine, noting that ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and are expected to reflect his policy priorities.

Administration officials described the recalls as standard practice for aligning diplomatic leadership with strategic objectives.

Nonetheless, the action has drawn concern from lawmakers and representatives of U.S. diplomats who have questioned the impact of such widespread changes on continuity and professionalism within America’s foreign service.