State department

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio bans senior Iranian officials, families from being in US

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revokes US entry privileges for senior Iranian officials and their families, citing human rights abuses.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled "US Policy Towards Venezuela", on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 28, 2026.
(From R-L) Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with British Columbia Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 28, 2026.

Trump officials meet group pushing for Alberta to gain independence from Canada

An illustration of enforcing sanctions on Iran.

US, 40 partner countries, hold symposium to implement UNSC regulations against Iran

Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council members Leslie Voltaire, January 23, 2026; illustrative.

US imposes visa restrictions on three Haitian officials linked to gangs


Syria's foreign minister expected to meet with State Dept. officials in New York

This is the first meeting for the US and Shibani that is taking place on US territory. It comes after Syria's response to conditions set by the US for possible partial sanctions relief.

 Syria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hasan al-Shaibani attends a panel discussion, "New Dawn for Damascus: Prospects for Syria's Transition", during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 15, 2025.

Trump admin. to reorganize State Department, cut redundant programs, Rubio says

“This approach will empower the Department from the ground up, from the bureaus to the embassies,” Rubio said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, April 10, 2025

Marco Rubio sits with Michael Benz, Jewish former Trump official with antisemitic online persona

Speaking to Rubio on Wednesday in a talk released by the State Department, Benz quizzed him on how the department would be changing its approach to free-speech issues under Trump.

 Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to Michael Benz, a Jewish former Trump official with a Hitler-praising online alter ego, in a video posted by the US State Department, April 16, 2025.

US sanctions three Iranian spies over role in FBI agent's 2007 disappearance

The US sanctioned the officials for involvement in the "abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. Levinson."

Robert Levinson

State Dept. says all waivers providing Iran economic relief are under review

"We are reviewing all existing sanctions waivers that provide Iran any degree of economic or financial relief," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

 Iran's and US' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022.

US State Department officials were 'hostile' towards Israel during war, former envoy says - report

“There are many within the State Department who are not just unfriendly to Israel, but outright hostile,” former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog said.

 U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023.

Rubio signs declaration to expedite delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel

Rubio said he had used emergency authority to expedite the delivery of military assistance to Israel to its Middle East ally, now in a fragile ceasefire with Hamas militants in their war in Gaza.

 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, February 16, 2025.

Trump orders revamp of US diplomatic corps to ensure they follow his agenda

Donald Trump has ordered a major State Department overhaul, empowering Rubio to reshape foreign service and enforce an "America First" agenda amid growing bureaucratic upheaval.

 Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) react during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2024.

Speechwriter fired over white nationalist ties appointed to high-level State Department role

Trump administration draws fire for naming Darren Beattie, a former White House staffer dismissed over white nationalist ties, to senior State Department role shaping public diplomacy.

 Darren Beattie, a former White House speechwriter who attended a conference with white supremacists, speaks at a "Symposium at the Wall," a 2019 gathering on border security, immigration asylum and other issues in Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Trump announces sweeping first-day executive orders and record declassifications

Classified documents regarding the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK are to be released. Trump added that "other topics of great interest" will have classified records declassified.

 U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally the day before he is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025.