The Department of State, established in 1789, is the oldest executive agency in the United States. Founded to handle foreign affairs, promote peace, and represent America’s interests abroad, it played a pivotal role under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson, the first Secretary of State, in establishing the U.S. as a global leader for freedom and democracy during an era dominated by European monarchs and despots.
Today, the Department has dangerously drifted far from its founding mission. Thomas Jefferson would hardly recognize the institution — or the nation — it represents. Jefferson’s Department has succumbed to “woke culture,” undermining its effectiveness and jeopardizing America’s leadership on the world stage.
Senator Marco Rubio, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, stands poised to confront this destructive ideology and restore the Department’s focus on advancing national security and traditional American values. Senator Rubio has always been a staunch defender of American freedom, both at home and abroad, with a deep commitment to combating communist regimes, especially given his Cuban heritage. As the son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio understands firsthand the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of standing against oppressive regimes. Rubio believes that America First means returning to the core principles of security, prosperity, and democratic values, rather than enforcing partisan ideologies.
For years, the radical Left has sidelined traditional ideals like Senator Rubio’s in favor of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. Instead of championing democracy and reinforcing America’s foundational principles, diplomats have spent resources promoting drag theater performances in Ecuador under the guise of national security. Rather than addressing serious threats like communism, our Cultural Officers promoted a film festival featuring incest and pedophilia in Portugal. The Biden-appointed U.S. ambassador to France has replaced portraits of American Founding Fathers with images of a transgender activist, a violent protester, socialist icons, and communists.
The obsession with promoting progressive social values has dangerously eroded America’s standing abroad. Adversaries like Communist China — likely amused by an ambassador swapping portraits of American heroes for communists — exploit this ideological preoccupation, bolstering their influence while the U.S. falls behind.
My personal experience attending events in Washington, D.C., with State Department officials underscores the problem. At these gatherings, I often spoke passionately about the hope many oppressed people place in America — those yearning for freedom from authoritarian regimes and seeking the basic human rights we often take for granted. After all, I saw it firsthand growing up under an oppressive government.
Instead of tackling critical global challenges, State Department representatives often steered our discussions toward their woke agenda, emphasizing progressive and ideological initiatives that mean little to oppressed populations seeking America’s leadership and support. I shudder to imagine how a younger version of myself would have felt if this had been America’s message to my family in the Soviet Union.
Consider the alarming juxtaposition of priorities: in 2022, the State Department issued an interagency strategy to promote LGBTQ+ rights abroad well before publishing the U.S. national security strategy. Meanwhile, China has increased its trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council, expanded its financial dominance in Africa and South America, and solidified security pacts in the Pacific — all without facing significant U.S. resistance.
At home, the situation is equally troubling. Instead of addressing urgent threats like China’s rising power, resources are diverted to diversity recruitment and DEIA mandates. The Department’s Equity Council, with unclear authority and no oversight, prioritizes loyalty to progressive values over traditional standards like competence and integrity. Today, becoming a front-line diplomat for our country requires passing a stringent ideological test, focused more on woke credentials than on diplomatic skills.
This ideological drift undermines the credibility of our diplomacy. Foreign counterparts do not view America as a reliable partner when moralistic lectures replace constructive dialogue. For instance, reprimanding Vietnam for its cultural values while neglecting to address Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea is not just counterproductive—it signals a dangerous abdication of leadership.
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Inclusivity is a core American value, and sexual orientation or moral shaming should not be the focus of our diplomacy. Richard Grenell made history as the highest-ranking openly gay ambassador in U.S. history when President Trump appointed him as Ambassador to Germany. Despite his groundbreaking position, Grenell never made his sexuality a focal point of his diplomatic work or public persona. He focused on his role, advancing the President’s mission of America First, prioritizing U.S. interests. His appointment was a testament to the President’s recognition of his qualifications and leadership, not his sexual orientation. Abilities matter most, not identity.
The 21st century will be defined by America’s competition with the Chinese Communist Party, and winning that contest requires a State Department that prioritizes strategic interests over social crusades. The American electorate agrees: Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are the right people for the job. Until then, the Department is a grave risk to our national security—and America’s position in the world.
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Karina Lipsman is a national security expert and visiting fellow at Independent Women’s Forum (iwf.org). She was born and raised in Soviet Ukraine and spent 14 years in the U.S. DoD and intelligence community.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.