US State Department not dismantled,Tillerson says
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has rejected allegations against his department, asserting that it is not dismantled.
The former ExxonMobil CEO made the comments in an interview with on CBS's “60 Minutes,” aired Sunday.
“There’s been no dismantling at all of the State Department. We’ve got terrific people, both foreign service officers, civil servants, that have stepped into those roles around the world, and have stepped in here,” Tillerson said on CBS's “60 Minutes.”
This is while around 40 American embassies remain without confirmed ambassadors cross the world.
“It’s not a question of people being… are neglecting the importance of it. It’ just the nature of the process itself,” he said.
The 65-year politician has reportedly reduced the number of staff at the department while putting a freeze on recruitment in other positions.
Since he appeared in office after nomination by US President Donald Trump, many of the staff have also quit their jobs.
That amounts of 60 percent of top-ranking career diplomats, who have stepped down as the number of people seeking a position at the Foreign Service has declined.
The department remains understaffed amid a war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The situation at the United States’ diplomatic front has raised concerns of a major conflict between Washington and one of its adversaries, particularly Pyongyang.
Tensions escalated between the two countries after Trump warned to “totally destroy” North Korea during a speech to the UN General Assembly last month.
Some American officials, meanwhile, are specifically worried over Tillerson’s good ties in Russia as an oil executive.
"The relationship that I had with President [Vladimir] Putin spans 18 years now. It was always about what could I do to be successful on behalf of my shareholders, how Russia could succeed," he said. "And I said to him, 'I now represent the American people.' And he clearly got, I mean, he clearly understood that as well."
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