Something “big” dropping this week ahead at Dept. State

[Anonymous]

State retiree here. Worked with amazing people in both CS and FS side. Have also seen some major knuckleheads and nimrods on both sides. It’s easier to cover up the ineptitude in the FS though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what exactly are FSOs doing besides living the expat life with tax payer funded servents?

This is exactly why we can't compete with China, the brightest in China work for the government, here we are vilifying educated people and calling them "elites". This country deserves everything headed it's way, when the citizenry is dumb and there is no respect for education, intellect and experience then current economy and politics is what you get.

+100000

I'm American Chinese and can confirm that in China - you have to be well educated to get a seat in government. Government is considered a respectable form of service - it's culturally 180 from US where people don't think twice about anyone working in govt, more that they hold in high esteem politically high offices. In China, you can be a low rung on the ladder in govt and that's still considered respectable but here, unless you are well regarded politically as a high visibility Senator or Cabinet member, whatever.

Americans are culturally, collectively idiots. American strength is in innovation, marketing/sales to an extent, entrepreneurship - all things highlighting individuality v community. So while certain individuals may lean to awesomeness, the collective stays unimpressive. There's a lot of talk about equality and inclusiveness but in reality, American culture is about a focus on independence and "power" in the context of winning - without actually understanding the definition of winning that is.

That is because Chinese government officials tend to be much more corrupt and work for a totalitarian government and the community party where citizens have no basic rights unlike US.

[Anonymous]

And it dropped, at least in part. Huge reorg at hand that will focus on the domestic side of the house. Long changes by July 1, which includes a LOT of RIFs and basically a reduction of staffing by 15%. The J family is gonna get hit hard, and GTM will now be called “Personnel” just like in Mad Men. Procurement will have its own bureau and FSI will be under Personnel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And it dropped, at least in part. Huge reorg at hand that will focus on the domestic side of the house. Long changes by July 1, which includes a LOT of RIFs and basically a reduction of staffing by 15%. The J family is gonna get hit hard, and GTM will now be called “Personnel” just like in Mad Men. Procurement will have its own bureau and FSI will be under Personnel.

How much of this will/should require congressional approval? Or lawsuits if they skip that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The is a type that does really well as an FSO. And there is a type that makes a career of being an FSO. The first is much more rare. That is what they hope to recruit and retain. At least it has been.

Getting rid of the exam almost guarantees our FSOs will be garden variety civil servants. Think about that for a moment. Just imagine your typical paper pusher hiking all over a foreign country the week after a catastrophic earthquake looking for injured (or dead) Americans. I couldn't even get the lady at the DMV to stand up and walk to the printer last week.

What Department is the DMV under?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The is a type that does really well as an FSO. And there is a type that makes a career of being an FSO. The first is much more rare. That is what they hope to recruit and retain. At least it has been.

Getting rid of the exam almost guarantees our FSOs will be garden variety civil servants. Think about that for a moment. Just imagine your typical paper pusher hiking all over a foreign country the week after a catastrophic earthquake looking for injured (or dead) Americans. I couldn't even get the lady at the DMV to stand up and walk to the printer last week.

FSOs are not conducting rescue missions on foot in developed nations after catastrophic earthquakes. Nor should they.

[Anonymous]

I hope capitulating to Russia and China is worth it to you, little Marco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it dropped, at least in part. Huge reorg at hand that will focus on the domestic side of the house. Long changes by July 1, which includes a LOT of RIFs and basically a reduction of staffing by 15%. The J family is gonna get hit hard, and GTM will now be called “Personnel” just like in Mad Men. Procurement will have its own bureau and FSI will be under Personnel.

How much of this will/should require congressional approval? Or lawsuits if they skip that?

Congressional approval-LOL.

[Anonymous]

DRP 2.0 has been offered to Dept. of State employees. The “calm” before the storm I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DRP 2.0 has been offered to Dept. of State employees. The “calm” before the storm I guess.

To all of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from at least a dozen folks that something “big” is going to be happening at the State Department in the week ahead. Sure, when one or two people mention something - well it’s just a blurb. When a dozen people mention it in an unsettling manner - I suppose that’s when I turn to an anonymous discussion board.

I have heard that RIFs will occur, or the fork will be reopened. Perhaps the announcement of which posts will be closed? Maybe the layoff of half the LE workforce?

Anyone hear anything? Other than the USID stuff, DoS has been remarkably quiet.

This far nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting rid of the exam is wild. The best people.

There have long been complaints about the exam. A republican-tied career ambassador told me that he found it impossible to get his best people through it and they were limited to other functions. In general, the selection process does seem to favor bland personalities.

Because the GOP hates competency and intelligence. The FSO exam separates the wheat from the chaff in terms of weighing knowledge and temperment to ensure the career diplomats truly represent the best of our country and not partisan loyalty.

Not always. I have met some incredibly dim FS Generalists. I always wondered how the hell they got through the process.

The answer to that is simple: Nepotism.

Dept of State and CIA for that matter are both rendered sclerotic from the hiring and promoting to tenure multiple generations of the same families going all the way back to the 1950's.

People who follow orders ( referred to as policy ), show little backbone or integrity even when laws are violated and go along to get along - also known as retiring at 25 years with full pension and - a job lined up for their similarly compliant kids when they themselves graduate from G'town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what exactly are FSOs doing besides living the expat life with tax payer funded servents?

You could actually google this question and get several reasonable answers. Why do you assume the FSO's, who run the offices in the embassies abroad, and particularly in many third world countries where life isn't easy, are living the "expat life?" - I mean, what you are describing is what the appointees to places like the Vatican, Monoco or in the case of Kim Gilfoyle, Greece, are doing. They are not the rank and file workers.

What’s the point?

You’re essentially trying to argue with the modern day equivalent of the Know Nothing party.

These are people who revel in ignorance and isolationism.

Some people are trying to learn. What does a FSO do that's so special they need their own test? For foreign adoptions? Do they make sure the kid really is an orphan, if you know what I mean...

The FSO process is rigorous. Multiple choice test. If you pass, written essays. If you pass, in-person group test to observe dynamics etc. if you pass, then you go Thru clearance process. Then after all of that, you MAY get invited to a training class called A-100 assuming there is funding.

Took about 18 months from the time I took first test to getting an a-100 offer. (Turned it down for family reasons). Met a lot of interesting people at all phases of their careers and with different backgrounds and politics aiming for it.

TBH we should bring back the civil service exam more broadly. Get rid of the DEI veterans preference.

Or, if your father is a weapons manufacturer and a many decades long beneficiary of no-bid Gov't weapons contracts you just might find yourself somehow " doing quite well " on the exam whether or not you actually did so

[Anonymous]

Anyone know which offices have received RIF notices already? I heard one of the offices in EUR??

Where else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know which offices have received RIF notices already? I heard one of the offices in EUR??

Where else?

Parts of OES got them thus far.