The US State Department terminated its leading experts on the South China Sea, earlier this month, and disbanded a key unit focused on Indo-Pacific security as part of a sweeping internal reorganization. The move eliminated critical institutional knowledge at a time when US officials continue to prioritize countering what they perceive as China's growing influence in the region.

The downsizing comes as US President Donald Trump's administration, along with bipartisan lawmakers, reiterates that maintaining freedom of navigation and security in the South China Sea remains a strategic imperative. The heavily trafficked waterway is reportedly vital for global commerce.

Washington has lately partnered with regional allies to challenge Beijing. “China’s actions undermine peace and stability in the region,” alleged Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, in June.

“The evidence for this is their growing willingness to use force to achieve their objectives — as seen in the South China Sea and around Taiwan while also undertaking a massive and unprecedented military buildup,” Colby stressed.

The Pentagon's top policy has made countering China his primary mission, calling for the US military to shift its focus to the Western Pacific.

Until recently, the Office of Multilateral Affairs within the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs managed US engagement with ASEAN, oversaw coordination on China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea, and supervised initiatives in the Mekong River region. According to current and former staff, the office was dissolved alongside several others in a broader workforce reduction that affected over 1,300 federal employees.

'After he used us, he fired us'

The office had also played a key role in preparing Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his recent visit to Malaysia to attend ASEAN-related meetings. The layoffs were made public as Rubio returned from that diplomatic tour.

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“After he used us, he fired us,” said one dismissed foreign affairs officer who had worked on South China Sea issues. “It’s mind-boggling.” Multiple former team members spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity, voicing concerns that disbanding the office could undermine US interests and embolden China. Many had expected to be reassigned rather than dismissed. None of the termination notices cited poor performance; in fact, several of those affected had recently received high marks in performance reviews.

All employees let go from the office were civil servants with years of subject-matter expertise. Unlike foreign service officers, who rotate assignments every two to three years, civil servants typically remain in place across multiple administrations, providing continuity. “We are the consistency. We keep the train running while everyone rotates,” said another former official.

'No one was preparing for this'

In a statement to NPR, the State Department said that essential functions previously handled by the eliminated office would be reassigned to other departments. “Mission-critical functions from any office eliminated will be integrated elsewhere,” it stated.

However, it remains unclear who will now take over the South China Sea portfolio, previously managed by the dismissed experts. “You have people that are going to be making decisions that are poorly informed,” said one former official. “They’re not going to know the potential risks of some of the options that they have.”

Another former State Department employee criticized the lack of preparation, noting that even after Congress was notified in May of the planned cuts, no steps were taken to preserve or transfer institutional knowledge. “What’s baffling to me is that no one was preparing for this,” the officer said. “There was no planning, there was no coordination, and there was no preparation to hand over any of our office duties.”

Despite bipartisan consensus that resisting what the US perceives as Chinese aggression and ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is vital, the decision to eliminate the office has puzzled many. This week, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Washington for talks with President Trump and Secretary Rubio, reaffirming the strategic partnership between the two nations, particularly regarding regional maritime security.

Concerns over US strategic posture in Asia

The dismissals have raised alarms among experts tracking US engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Gregory Poling, director of the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the move as “really harmful” to American efforts in the region. “You’re not going to pluck somebody else out of an unrelated bureau who knows the ins and outs of one of the most complicated issues in the world,” he said.

Poling also warned of potential reputational damage among US allies. “It reinforces a narrative in the region of US strategic withdrawal,” he noted. “Sure, we might still be sending the Navy out, but we’re not really interested in the diplomatic or the economic leadership that the region wants to see.”

Piper Campbell, a former diplomat and current chair of the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security at American University, said she was “really disappointed” by the closure of the office and the dismissal of its staff. She expressed concern that the decision could weaken US influence. “It reduces our influence. It reduces our understanding of what’s happening in this important region, and it reduces both our security and our economic heft in the region,” Campbell said.

Other former officials suggested that the broader context, such as recent US tariffs on countries in the region and reduced aid, could lead allies to seek stronger ties with China. “If our chief goal is pushing back against Chinese expansionism — how does this help? I would argue it hurts,” said James Caruso, a former diplomat with extensive experience in Southeast Asia.

Henrietta Levin, who previously served as deputy China coordinator for global affairs at the State Department under the Biden administration, also expressed concern. “I think these cuts eliminate tools that have been powerful in the United States,” she said. “At a time when China is doubling down on its own commitment to this competition and trying to win over countries in the Indo-Pacific, I would hope the United States would use every tool available.”