Project 2025 Tracker / What’s done, what’s next

Section 2 · The Common Defense

6 Department of State

171–200 · Kiron K. Skinner

  • 23 done
  • 21 partially done
  • 2 attempted
  • 22 not started

Major recommendations (8)

What has happened

The Mandate said

“The federal government’s obligation to shift national security–essential screening and vetting resources to the forged border crisis will necessitate an indefinite curtailment of the number of USRAP refugee admissions. The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which administers USRAP, must shift its resources to challenges stemming from the current immigration situation until the crisis can be contained and refugee-focused screening and vetting capacity can reasonably be restored.”

What happened

Done

Presidential Determination 2026-24 set the FY2027 ceiling at 17,500, the level the May 2026 emergency determination had raised FY2026 to. The admissions "shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204". They remain "in all respects subject to" EO 14163, whose suspension of refugee entry the determination recites as still in force, along with EO 14161 and Proclamation 10998. A second year of the curtailment, not a resumption.

The Mandate said

“The federal government’s obligation to shift national security–essential screening and vetting resources to the forged border crisis will necessitate an indefinite curtailment of the number of USRAP refugee admissions. The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which administers USRAP, must shift its resources to challenges stemming from the current immigration situation until the crisis can be contained and refugee-focused screening and vetting capacity can reasonably be restored.”

What happened

Done

Emergency Presidential Determination 2026-14 raised the FY2026 ceiling from 7,500 to 17,500, the increase reserved for Afrikaners from South Africa; the general suspension under EO 14163 continues.

The Mandate said

“The federal government’s obligation to shift national security–essential screening and vetting resources to the forged border crisis will necessitate an indefinite curtailment of the number of USRAP refugee admissions. The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which administers USRAP, must shift its resources to challenges stemming from the current immigration situation until the crisis can be contained and refugee-focused screening and vetting capacity can reasonably be restored.”

What happened

Done

The Ninth Circuit reversed the injunctions as to the suspension itself: plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed in showing EO 14163 exceeded the President's authority under 8 U.S.C. §1182(f) and the Refugee Act, and State could lawfully defund overseas processing while admissions are limited to case-by-case entry. It affirmed only as to statutorily mandated services for refugees already admitted and the unexplained termination of the cooperative agreements.

The Mandate said

“First, the U.S. must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear technology and delivery capabilities and more broadly block Iranian ambitions. This means, inter alia, reinstituting and expanding Trump Administration sanctions; providing security assistance for regional partners…”

What happened

Done

Executive Order 14382 authorized tariffs of up to 25 percent on goods from any country that buys goods or services from Iran — a secondary-sanctions instrument with no first-term precedent.

The Mandate said

“The U.S. government should not and cannot promote or fund abortion in international programs or multilateral organizations.”

What happened

Done

State Department rule added the "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance" award term to grants, cooperative agreements and voluntary contributions under all of its foreign-assistance authorities, binding foreign and U.S. NGOs, public international organizations, foreign governments and parastatals; effective 2026-02-26. With PLGHA reinstated across agencies and the UNFPA withdrawal ordered, the bar now reaches both international programs and multilateral organizations.

Still to come

Executive action 20

  1. 186 Recognize Somaliland statehood Major Not started
  2. 175 Suspend compliance with “agreements” that are really treaties pending Senate consent Notable Not started
  3. 175 Withdraw treaties pending before the Senate for 20 years or more Notable Not started
  4. 175 Revoke most Circular 175 authorities granted to other agencies Notable Not started
  5. 185 Build a Middle East security pact as a second “Quad” Notable Not started
  6. 192 Impose a text-based reading of human rights treaties as a personnel litmus test Notable Not started
  7. 192 Base State Department human rights policy on the Commission on Unalienable Rights report Notable Not started
  8. 173 Increase the number of political appointees at the State Department Minor Not started
  9. 173 Institute regular strategy meetings and trainings for political appointees Minor Not started
  10. 173 Create a mentorship program for junior political appointees Minor Not started
  11. 175 Update letters of transmittal for stale treaties still worth ratifying Minor Not started
  12. 176 Require White House coordination of all State engagement with Congress Minor Not started
  13. 177 Streamline State's response time to foreign visa policy changes Minor Not started
  14. 178 Let DHS retain or regain C-175 authority for security agreements Minor Not started
  15. 184 Shift global manufacturing out of the PRC to Latin America Minor Not started

and 5 more →

Needs Congress 2

  1. 195 Restore and consolidate U.S. international broadcasting infrastructure Notable Not started
  2. 190 Upgrade Coast Guard Arctic facilities such as the Barrow station Minor Not started

All recommendations in this chapter

Every recommendation this chapter is the home of, in printed-page order.

  1. 173 Install State Department appointees in roles pending Senate confirmation Done
  2. 173 Fill non-Senate-confirmed State posts with political appointees Partially done
  3. 173 Increase the number of political appointees at the State Department Not started
  4. 173 Replace all State Department leadership on January 20 Day one Partially done
  5. 173 Institute regular strategy meetings and trainings for political appointees Not started
  6. 173 Create a mentorship program for junior political appointees Not started
  7. 174 Accept all political ambassadors' resignations and reassess career ambassadors Partially done
  8. 174 Recall ambassadors hostile to the incoming Administration Partially done
  9. 174 Prioritize presidential allies as ambassadors to key strategic posts Done
  10. 174 Have the transition team audit State negotiations and funding commitments Partially done
  11. 174 Freeze State Department disbursements, contracts, and hiring on inauguration Day one Partially done
  12. 175 Freeze all ongoing treaty and international agreement negotiations Partially done
  13. 175 Stand down enforcement of treaties not ratified by the Senate Partially done
  14. 175 Suspend compliance with “agreements” that are really treaties pending Senate consent Not started
  15. 175 Withdraw treaties pending before the Senate for 20 years or more Not started
  16. 175 Update letters of transmittal for stale treaties still worth ratifying Not started
  17. 175 Revoke most Circular 175 authorities granted to other agencies Not started
  18. 176 Require White House coordination of all State engagement with Congress Not started
  19. 176 Retain and support the Office of China Coordination (“China House”) Done
  20. 177 Strictly enforce visa reciprocity for all foreign nationals Partially done
  21. 177 Streamline State's response time to foreign visa policy changes Not started
  22. 177 Fully enforce INA section 243(d) visa sanctions on recalcitrant countries Partially done
  23. 178 Indefinitely curtail refugee admissions under USRAP Done
  24. 178 Let DHS retain or regain C-175 authority for security agreements Not started
  25. 178 Evaluate the Diversity Visa, F, and J visa programs for security risk Done
  26. 179 Draft an “Article X” strategy document on China Partially done
  27. 183 Adopt a “sovereign Mexico” policy Partially done
  28. 183 Work with hemisphere partners to halt the fentanyl trade Partially done
  29. 184 Shift global manufacturing out of the PRC to Latin America Not started
  30. 184 Develop a hemisphere-focused energy policy with Mexico and Canada Not started
  31. 185 Reinstitute and expand Trump-era sanctions on Iran Done
  32. 185 Ensure Israel has the means and political support to act against Iran Done
  33. 185 Expand the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states Partially done
  34. 185 Reverse the degradation of the U.S.–Saudi partnership Done
  35. 185 Defund the Palestinian Authority Needs Congress Partially done
  36. 185 Rethink U.S. support for YPG/PKK Kurdish forces to keep Türkiye aligned Not started
  37. 185 Build a Middle East security pact as a second “Quad” Not started
  38. 186 Reorient African development assistance from aid to private-sector growth Done
  39. 186 Create a template “digital hygiene” program for African countries Not started
  40. 186 Recognize Somaliland statehood Not started
  41. 187 Support African militaries with foreign military education, training, and aid Done
  42. 187 Designate African “focus countries” for a full suite of U.S. engagement Partially done
  43. 187 Stop promoting abortion and pro-LGBT initiatives in Africa policy Done
  44. 187 Press NATO members to meet and exceed the Wales Pledge 2 percent target Done
  45. 188 Conduct a comprehensive review of U.S.–EU trade arrangements Done
  46. 188 Urgently develop trade with the post-Brexit United Kingdom Done
  47. 189 Encourage the “Quad-Plus” concept Partially done
  48. 189 Deliver a revamped U.S. regional strategy for South Asia Not started
  49. 189 Have NATO adopt and implement an Arctic strategy Partially done
  50. 190 Expand Navy and Coast Guard fleets, including icebreaker acquisitions Needs Congress Done
  51. 190 Upgrade Coast Guard Arctic facilities such as the Barrow station Needs Congress Not started
  52. 190 Keep Arctic shipping lanes open and free of onerous fees Attempted
  53. 190 Rally Arctic nations against the PRC's “Polar Silk-Road” ambitions Partially done
  54. 190 Pursue policies enhancing U.S.–Greenland economic ties Partially done
  55. 191 Order a cost-benefit analysis of every international organization the U.S. joins Done
  56. 191 Withdraw from international organizations that undermine U.S. interests Done
  57. 191 Withhold U.S. funds from international organizations that promote abortion Done
  58. 192 Impose a text-based reading of human rights treaties as a personnel litmus test Not started
  59. 192 Base State Department human rights policy on the Commission on Unalienable Rights report Not started
  60. 192 Align U.S. foreign policy engagements with the Geneva Consensus Declaration Done
  61. 192 Bar U.S. promotion or funding of abortion in international programs Done
  62. 192 Restrict federal funding to the World Health Organization Needs Congress Done
  63. 193 Develop a complete reorganization plan for the State Department Done
  64. 194 Make the USAID Administrator Director of Foreign Assistance at State Partially done
  65. 194 Develop a plan to consolidate foreign assistance authorities Done
  66. 195 Restore and consolidate U.S. international broadcasting infrastructure Needs Congress Not started
  67. 196 Establish enforceable international norms for cyberspace Not started
  68. 196 Have State assist the Defense Department in going on cyber offense Attempted

Also cited in this chapter

Recommendations whose home is another chapter but which this chapter repeats.

  1. Reinstate the Remain in Mexico (Migrant Protection Protocols) policy Day one Partially done