Heritage Foundation's
Project 2025

Chapter 6 - Department of State

• Reforge the State Department into a "lean and functional diplomatic machine"
• Exert leverage during the confirmation process by placing appointees directly into roles pending confirmation
• Increase the number of political appointees in non-Senate confirmed positions
• Implement regular coordination and training for political appointees
• Review and potentially recall all career ambassadors
• Prioritize political ambassadors for key strategic posts
• Conduct a retroactive review of all State Department negotiations and funding commitments
• Freeze efforts to implement unratified treaties and international agreements
• Review and potentially suspend enforcement of unratified treaties
• Revoke most outstanding Circular 175 (C-175) authorities granted to other agencies
• Consolidate foreign assistance authorities under a Director of Foreign Assistance
• Restore and consolidate international broadcasting infrastructure
• Establish a clear framework of enforceable norms for actions in cyberspace
• Assist the Department of Defense in going "on offense" against cyber adversaries
• Implement strict visa reciprocity
• Enforce visa sanctions under section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
• Curtail refugee admissions through the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP)
• Reactivate the Remain in Mexico policy and safe third-country agreements
• Evaluate security-sensitive visa programs (e.g., Diversity Visa, F visa, J visa programs)
• Develop an "Article X for China" strategy to counter Chinese influence
• Align U.S. policy with the Geneva Consensus Declaration on women's health and family
• Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of U.S. participation in all international organizations
• Withhold funding from international organizations that promote policies deemed contrary to U.S. interests
• Promote a strict text-based interpretation of treaty obligations in international organizations
• Reassert U.S. Arctic interests, including promoting economic development and strengthening military presence
• Encourage NATO to develop an Arctic strategy
• Open a U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland
• Develop a complete hypothetical reorganization of the State Department
• Make the USAID Administrator also the Director of Foreign Assistance with Deputy Secretary rank
• Evaluate consolidation of foreign assistance authorities across the federal government