The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) has expressed concern over the record number of political appointments to United States Ambassadorial posts around the world.
About 44 per cent of Ambassadors appointed by President Donald Trump have been political appointees, compared with a historical average of about 30 per cent.
The AFSA said that percentage was getting higher.
It said that out of the Ambassador nominations so far this year, 57 per cent had gone to political appointees.
It said the dramatic increase of top posts being given to wealthy entrepreneurs like Lana Marks (pictured), a handbag designer made Ambassador to South Africa last year, could violate the law which requires most posts to go to Department of State diplomats, and for ambassadors to have relevant experience.
The Foreign Service Act requires that most Ambassadors should be career Foreign Service officers, that political appointments should be a rarity, and that all appointees should be fully qualified for their positions.
President of the AFSA, Eric Rubin said he was concerned that the percentage of political appointees was higher than at any time in recent history and also that the number of nominees did not appear to be qualified.
He urged the Senate to scrutinise the qualifications of nominees with the aim of returning to the historic norm of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of posts being reserved for political appointees.
“The current percentage of about 45 per cent is way above historical norms and has a negative impact on our diplomacy and overseas operations,” Mr Rubin said.
A Department of State spokesperson said: “This year, like every year, career employees have a number of posts for which they can indicate interest and compete”.
Washington, 1 June 2020
