Trump administration plans to promote loyal diplomats after recall of 30 ambassadors, sources say

The Trump administration had vowed to oust a ‘deep state’ of civil servants in a process that critics have called a purge of a professional class of government employees Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters

The Trump administration has quietly recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and other senior overseas diplomats as the Trump administration plans to promote appointees loyal to the new administration to higher levels of the state department, according to diplomatic sources.

The recall of the ambassadors or heads of mission, which were confirmed by several current and former senior diplomats, was unusual for targeting career foreign service officers heading embassies overseas who are generally left in place after a change in administration because they strive to be apolitical.