WASHINGTON — Several top-ranking U.S. diplomats assigned to the Organization of American States have either resigned or been let go following disputes with the Trump-appointed ambassador overseeing the mission, according to six sources with knowledge of the situation.
The OAS, founded in 1948, serves as the Western Hemisphere’s primary multilateral forum, addressing regional security, human rights, democracy, and economic development. The Washington-based organization has played a key role in resolving disputed elections across Latin America and has frequently united U.S. allies in speaking out against human rights abuses in authoritarian nations such as Cuba and Nicaragua.
In recent months, the U.S. mission to the OAS has experienced a significant wave of departures. According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, those who have left include the deputy chief of mission, the chief of staff, a senior political counselor, and at least one additional foreign service officer.
Together, those individuals represented the bulk of the mission’s senior leadership. The U.S. mission typically operates with only a small number of full-time foreign service officers, meaning the departures effectively eliminated its entire experienced upper tier.
The shake-up is the latest sign of how the Trump administration is remaking the U.S. diplomatic workforce, frequently by pushing out veteran career diplomats. It also highlights the administration’s broader skepticism toward multilateral institutions, even in strategically significant areas like Latin America, where the White House has been directing increased attention and resources.
Sources say a number of the departing diplomats had conflicts with the current ambassador, Leandro Rizzuto Jr., a personal friend of President Donald Trump. Many career officials described his management approach as confrontational and unpredictable. Earlier this year, Rizzuto reportedly referred to staff members who raised concerns directly with State Department leadership as “rats,” according to two of the sources.
In a conversation with Reuters, Rizzuto disputed characterizations of his leadership style, though he confirmed that several senior diplomats had recently left — some fired, some voluntarily. He said his goal is to redirect the OAS away from its traditional emphasis on human rights and democracy and toward economic matters, a shift he acknowledged has caused friction with some State Department personnel. He did not address the “rats” remark in a follow-up email.
“I’m a business guy, so the bottom line is I want results, and without making it personal, if you can’t do the job, I’d rather you have another job,” Rizzuto told Reuters.
The State Department did not reply to a detailed list of questions submitted by Reuters. The senior diplomats who departed either could not be reached, did not reply to requests for comment, or declined to speak when contacted.
Rizzuto maintained that those who left have been replaced by strong performers.
Trump officials have publicly questioned whether the OAS remains relevant, as they have with most multilateral bodies. At the same time, they have indicated the organization could demonstrate its value by taking on a larger role in hemispheric security and law enforcement.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has moved aggressively to reassert U.S. influence in Latin America, most notably through a military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s president and helped install more U.S.-friendly leadership in the region.
Rizzuto, the billionaire heir to a cosmetics fortune, was previously nominated during Trump’s first term to serve as ambassador to Barbados and two other Caribbean nations. That nomination collapsed after it emerged that he had reposted conspiracy theories online, including a false claim that Republican Senator Ted Cruz’s wife was involved in a secret plan to merge the governments of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He was subsequently appointed to the top diplomatic role in Bermuda — a post that does not require Senate confirmation.
During Trump’s second term, Rizzuto was confirmed as ambassador without major controversy and assumed the position late last year.
After taking the post, Rizzuto arranged for a large oil painting of himself to be hung in the main entrance of the U.S. mission to the OAS, according to three of the sources. Rizzuto did not respond to an inquiry about the painting.
In the interview, Rizzuto said he personally removed his deputy chief of mission and chief of staff, while his political counselor chose to resign. He described himself as “the fairest guy” and said he champions employees who put in genuine effort.
The sources, however, rejected the notion that the departing State Department staff were underperforming or indifferent.
The State Department’s workforce has been dramatically reshaped under the Trump administration, a transformation that critics argue has come at the expense of experienced career public servants. Several hundred officers were let go in mass layoffs last year, and in December the administration removed nearly 30 career ambassadors, leaving many of those positions unfilled.
