EO 14150: America First Policy Directive To The Secretary Of State

TLDR

This executive order establishes an “America First” foreign policy doctrine requiring State Department alignment with U.S. interests, while preserving existing agency authorities, OMB oversight, and Congressional funding control. Implementation details are left to the Secretary of State, with no provision for legal enforcement challenges.

Executive Order 14150 establishes an “America First” foreign policy framework through three main provisions:

Policy Directives

• Mandates all State Department activities align with prioritizing U.S. interests above other considerations
• Requires Secretary of State to overhaul diplomatic programs, personnel decisions, and operational protocols to reflect this doctrine

Implementation Constraints

• Maintains existing statutory authorities of federal agencies[3(i)]
• Preserves OMB’s budgetary oversight functions[3(ii)]
• Makes execution contingent on Congressional funding approvals[3(b)]
• Explicitly denies any legal standing for enforcement challenges[3©]

Impacts

Strategic Ambiguity Risks

The order’s undefined terms like “core American interests” create interpretation challenges. While presidents traditionally set foreign policy priorities[3(a)], the lack of specificity could lead to:

• Diplomatic Flexibility

  • Benefit: Allows adaptable foreign policy
  • Risk: May lead to inconsistent application across regions/issues

• Rapid Policy Shifts

  • Benefit: Enables quick response to changing conditions
  • Risk: Could erode existing treaty commitments

• Clear Negotiating Stance

  • Benefit: Provides direct, unambiguous positions
  • Risk: May create perception of purely transactional relationships

Institutional Considerations

The preservation of OMB’s role[3(a)(ii)] and Congressional appropriations authority[3(b)] suggests recognition of constitutional checks, though the order’s success would depend on:

• State Department bureaucratic capacity for restructuring
• Political appointee alignment with career diplomats
• Sustained funding through annual budget processes

This establishes a philosophical framework rather than immediate operational changes, with implementation dependent on subsequent guidance from the Secretary of State. The non-enforceability clause[3©] limits judicial review avenues, concentrating accountability in the executive branch.

ACTIONS

• 2025-02-03: State Dept. Fires About 60 Contractors Working on Democracy and Human Rights (Archive Link)