NYT: Tillerson "Downgrading" State Department
WHITFIELD: The editorial board of the New York Times slamming U.S. Secretary Rex Tillerson for his leadership of the State Department. The paper writes quote, "Rex Tillerson is widely seen as ill suited to diplomatic leadership. The department is being undermined by budget cuts at failure to fill top jobs. An erratic President and a Secretary who has called reorganization rather than policy is most important priority." CNN Global Affairs Correspondent Elise Labott joining me now. So Elise this is a scathing editorial from the New York Times on Rex Tillerson's ability to leave the State Department. But what kind of reaction is coming from The State Department?</s>ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, nothing specific on this particular editorial. Some of his aides have kind of forwarded tweets supporting President-Tillerson in response. But this is really the longest list in a recent wave of criticism bite of Secretary of State Tillerson by top members of Congress, lawmakers very concerned about the state of the State Department, particularly what they call the hollowing out of the Foreign Service. On Friday, the State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert acknowledged that there was very poor morale of the State Department and urged diplomats to hang in there. Take a listen.</s>HEATHER NAUERT, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: I know that times may seem tough right now. I know that the headlines coming out of the State Department do not look good, do not look promising. We have a lot of work to do here at the State Department. From the crisis that unfolds in Burma right now to what is going on in Iraq and that the good defeating of ISIS that we are doing, we have so much work that has up to be done to what is happening in Cambodia right now. Their work I can just say from a personal point of view is valued, is needed. We need the Foreign Service officers to keep doing what they have committed. There are lives to do. I hope that they will stay on. It breaks my heart to hear that some feel that they aren't wanted or aren't needed or aren't appreciated.</s>LABOTT: Now this career Foreign Service officers serve across Republicans and Democratic administrations. But particularly in this Trump administration, there's been this feeling that, you know, they're part of the so-called deep state, the old guard. And this administration really, across the government, has been very wary of those career officers. Now Secretary Tillerson does meet with employees when he goes to embassies across the world, Fred, that I think those diplomats here on Washington, here at the State Department are looking for Secretary Tillerson to bring them in more. You've seen this kind of having a little bit of insular attitude and not. There are career officers that are working with him, but certainly not enough, Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Elise Labott in Washington. Thanks so much. And we'll be right back.