Key facts
- Several senior U.S. diplomats have left the Organization of American States mission.
- Departures include the deputy chief of mission, chief of staff, and senior political counselor.
- Clashes occurred between departing staff and Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto Jr., a Trump appointee.
- Rizzuto aims to shift the OAS's focus from human rights to economic issues.
- Rizzuto described some staff who raised concerns as "rats".
Several senior U.S. diplomats have departed the Organization of American States (OAS) mission, with some quitting and others being fired, following clashes with Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto Jr., a personal friend of U.S. President Donald Trump. The turnover has significantly reduced the institutional expertise within the historically important U.S. mission to the OAS, a key multilateral forum for the Western Hemisphere.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the departures, which include the deputy chief of mission, chief of staff, and a senior political counselor, have created a vacuum in senior staff positions. The changes reflect a broader trend under the Trump administration of reshaping the diplomatic corps and a skepticism towards multilateral institutions, even in strategically important regions like Latin America.
Clashes reportedly stemmed from Rizzuto's confrontational management style and his stated intention to shift the OAS's focus from human rights and democracy toward economic issues. Rizzuto acknowledged the staff changes in an interview, stating he is a "business guy" focused on results and that those unable to perform their jobs have been replaced. He reportedly referred to staff who raised concerns with State Department leadership as "rats."
The State Department did not respond to detailed questions about the matter. The departing diplomats could not be reached for comment, declined to comment, or did not respond to requests for information. Rizzuto, who was previously nominated for an ambassadorship during Trump's earlier term but failed to secure confirmation amid controversy, was appointed to his current post late last year. He also reportedly had a large oil painting of himself placed in the mission's vestibule.