The State Department has officially disbanded the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, an entity established by former President Joe Biden and led by John Kerry in a bid to tackle global warming, according to information obtained by The Washington Free Beacon.
A high-ranking State Department official confirmed to the Free Beacon that the office has been closed, stating that its objectives were not in line with the Trump administration's policies. The official said, "This climate office has long been captured by ideology instead of common sense policy. The new chapter of the State Department will not include this office." The official further explained that the move is part of a broader initiative to enable regional bureaus and embassies to effectively execute diplomacy.
This development is part of a larger effort by the expansive agency to streamline its operations, save taxpayer money, and ensure its ability to deliver on President Donald Trump's foreign policy agenda. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "In its current form, the department is bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission." He added that the agency had become "beholden to radical political ideology."
This move signifies the Trump administration's ongoing divergence from the Biden-era foreign policy, which placed climate change at the heart of its interactions with foreign nations. For instance, one of Rubio's initial actions as head of the State Department was to initiate the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, arguing that it undermined the nation's ambition to become the world's leading energy producer.
A senior White House official stated, "The Trump Administration is focused on reducing the everyday cost of living for the American worker, not apologizing to foreign governments for unleashing Americas energy dominance."
The Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate had an annual budget of nearly $17 million and a staff of approximately 30 officials during the Biden administration, according to documents obtained by watchdog group Protect the Public's Trust.
In appointing Kerry as the inaugural special presidential envoy for climate, Biden granted him a seat on both the White House cabinet and National Security Council. He was tasked with leading international negotiations, engaging directly with foreign heads of state, and heading American delegations at numerous global climate conferences.
Kerry, who served in the role for three years from January 2021 to early 2024, used the position to launch a comprehensive attack on fossil fuels and vigorously promote a transition to green alternatives like solar panels. He also targeted the agricultural industry for its carbon footprint, leading to calls from dozens of lawmakers for Biden and then-agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack to disavow the comments.
Kerry faced criticism from Republican lawmakers and energy experts for denouncing fossil fuel reliance in the West, while seemingly ignoring China's rapid expansion of its reliance on coal power to sustain its growing manufacturing sector. The House Oversight Committee initiated an investigation into Kerry's discussions with his Chinese counterparts in 2023 and later threatened to subpoena him after his office failed to provide requested documents.
The Free Press initially reported Rubio's actions to streamline the State Department's structure. The publication cited internal documents revealing the agency's plans to close 132 offices, including those established to promote human rights, counter extremism, and prevent war crimes.
Kerry was also accused of hypocrisy, as the climate conferences he attended were often held at upscale resorts, and he accumulated tens of thousands of flight miles on fuel-intensive jets. During much of his tenure as special presidential envoy for climate, Kerry's family also owned a private jet.
Despite its high-level role in American foreign policy, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Office remained tight-lipped about its staff and operations throughout the Biden administration. This recent development underscores the Trump administration's commitment to prioritizing common-sense policy over ideological pursuits, a shift that is likely to resonate with conservative audiences.
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