RestoringU.S.credibilityandleadershipininternational
affairswillrequireitsdiplomatstobeasfluentinhitherto
neglectedissuesofglobalimport—suchasclimatechange,
pandemicpreparedness,andeconomicinequality—asinmat-
tersoftraditionalstrategicimportance.
BidenshouldworkwithCongresstodevisepoliciesto
attracta morediverseanddigitallysavvydiplomaticcorps,
includingmakingit easierformidcareerprofessionalsfrom
theprivatesectortoserveoverseasandencouragingdiplo-
matstospendtimeworkingoutsideofgovernment.Toappeal
toyoungerrecruits,State’ssystemofpromotionandcareer
advancementshouldberevampedtorewardinnovationand
performance,notpersonalconnectionsandlengthofservice.
Biden’scampaignpromisesto“buildbackbetter”were
directed to the economy, but he has an opportunity to
apply the credo to U.S. diplomacy. He shouldn’t waste it. <BW>
For more commentary, go to bloomberg.com/opinion◼ BLOOMBERG OPINION December 7, 2020
InJanuary,JoeBidenwilltakechargeofanexecutivebranchin
woefuldisrepair.Practicallyeveryimportantfederalinstitution
hasbeenscorchedduringfouryearsofsustainedassaultbyhis
predecessor—nonemoresothantheStateDepartment.
DonaldTrumphasharmedU.S.diplomacyinwordand
deed.Hissecretariesofstate,firstRexTillersonandthenMike
Pompeo,havedamagedthedepartmentdeeply.Theiropen
hostilitytowardcareerforeignaffairsprofessionalshasledto
anexodusoftalent,leavingimportantroleseitherunfilledor,
worse,mannedbyunqualifiedpoliticalappointees.
Asa result,moraleinthedepartmenthasplummeted,as
hasitsprestige.TheColombianambassadortoWashington
wascaughtontapelamentingthat“theU.S.StateDepartment,
whichusedtobeimportant,is destroyed,it doesn’texist.”He
mighthavebeenspeakingforU.S.alliesandenemiesalike.
Trumphasalsoaccelerateda trend,alreadyconspicuous
duringtheObamaadministration,ofconductingforeignpolicy
fromtheWhiteHouse.Histendencytobaseforeignrelations
onhispersonaloneshasoftenleftdiplomatswiththetaskof
squaringthepresident’sfondnessforstrongmenwiththecir-
cleofU.S.interests.
Allthisis nowBiden’stofix.Toleadtherepaireffort,he
planstonominateformerDeputySecretaryofStateAntony
Blinkenasheadofthedepartment.A careerdiplomat,Blinken
hasaninsider’sknowledgeofwhatneedsfixingandthecred-
ibilitywithfellowprofessionalstodothejob.It willhelpthat
JakeSullivanandLindaThomas-Greenfield,Biden’scandidates
fornationalsecurityadviserandambassadortotheUnited
Nations,havealsoheldtoppositionsatState.
Thosearepromisingchoices,butthepresident-electmust
alsoconquerhisownproclivityforpersonalizingforeign
affairs.Asa longtimememberofWashington’sforeignpol-
icyestablishment,hehasmorethana passingfamiliaritywith
manyworldleadersandoftencitesoldfriendshipswhenasked
howhemightdealwithdifficultdiplomaticchallenges.
TheU.S.wouldbebetter servedbyreturningforeign
relations to the realm of institutions rather than individuals.
Under Trump, only one of 28 assistant secretary positions is
filled by an active-duty career officer confirmed by the Senate.
Biden should rebalance the department’s leadership, so the
majority of Senate-confirmed positions are held by career
diplomats. He should reduce ambassadorships awarded to
loyalists and fundraisers. Shrinking the size of the National
Security Council staff would also help restore the role of the
State Department in carrying out foreign policy.
The experience of Biden’s team also gives it credibility
to carry out much-needed reforms of the diplomatic corps.Biden Must Build
U.S. Diplomacy
Back Better
EU leaders will gather in Brussels on Dec. 10-11 to
coordinate their efforts on Covid-19, climate change,
security, and external relations. And there’s always Brexit
left to resolve, as an accord remains nebulous.▶ One Meeting for Many Crises
▶ The European Central
Bank decides on
interest rates on Dec. 10.
Economists predict the
ECB will expand and
extend its pandemic
bond-buying program by
about €500 billion.▶ Goldman Sachs’s
U.S. Financial Services
Conference on Dec. 8
features JPMorgan CEO
Jamie Dimon, KKR co-
President Scott Nuttal,
and Citigroup CFO Mark
Mason as speakers.▶ Online pet-food
retailer Chewy reports
earnings on Dec. 8. With
dog and cat parents
avoiding walk-in stores
and animal adoptions
soaring, its business
has boomed.▶ On Dec. 8, the
National Federation of
Independent Business
monthly report on U.S.
small-business optimism
is expected to show that
companies are more
upbeat about the future.▶ The Milken Institute
holds its virtual Future
of Health Summit on
Dec. 7-9. Participants will
explore the converging
crises of public health,
economic insecurity, and
social injustice.▶ New York’s school
system is set to resume
in-person classes
beginning on Dec. 7,
with students in 3-K
and pre-K programs
among those being
allowed to return.◼ AGENDA
10
ILLUSTRATION BY JACKSON GIBBS