The United States is moving quickly to move some diplomats and family members from their posts in the Middle East as the threat of regional escalation looms, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
The departures have been described as a frustrating and chaotic déjà vu, as many of those leaving had only recently returned to their posts after being ordered to leave at the height of the war in Iran.
“To say the situation has been chaotic is an understatement,” said a US diplomat, explaining that the financial support they have been offered so far does not cover the costs of moving their entire family out of the region. Many of these families then rushed to leave their homes in the Middle East during the first weeks of the war and find new housing and schools for their children. Now many are having to do the same thing again, with what they see as potentially less financial support from the State Department.
“This echoes the chaos families experienced earlier this year. Some had barely resettled before being asked to leave again,” Nikki Gamer, a spokesperson for the American Foreign Service Association, told CNN. “They are understandably upset, confused and angry.”
The adjustments come as the Iran-backed Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia — hostilities that the State Department has repeatedly warned “could rapidly escalate beyond this immediate area.”
They also come as US President Donald Trump has suggested he might restart strikes on Iran after the midterms, and Israel has pushed – so far unsuccessfully – for more immediate action.
The State Department this week ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and all family members from Saudi Arabia. Officials said the ordered departure was made in response to escalations by the Houthis.
At the same time, it has quietly adjusted its staffing caps at several other embassies in the Middle East, including Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon, sources told CNN.
A State Department official confirmed to CNN that Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan “will see temporary changes in their troop levels under restricted operations.” They said there were no changes to staffing in Kuwait or Bahrain, suggesting they have not exceeded their staffing caps.
“Under restricted operations status, staffing levels are constantly evaluated and adjusted,” the official said.
Unlike the departure ordered by Saudi Arabia, the movements of these embassies have not been publicly announced. The State Department emphasized that these embassies, unlike Saudi Arabia, have not changed their status and remain under “restricted operations” status. Even if there is no formal change in status, there may still be a change in personnel under the “restricted operations” status.
“There is a very typical Groundhog Day vibe,” a source in Amman said of some embassy staff who have been asked to leave the Jordanian capital again.
Not all embassies allowed children to return to post, but most allowed spouses to return. Now, family members are leaving embassies they were only recently allowed to return to – but unlike earlier this year, sources say family members are not receiving the same financial support.
Communication and coordination around departures from the department’s headquarters in Foggy Bottom to foreign service officers on the ground are “just as shitty” as at the start of the Iran war, a source familiar with the matter said.
Foreign Service officers are concerned about whether the State Department will provide their families with per diems to settle in the United States, the source said, noting that some embassies have not held the planning meetings or town halls with staff that are customary before departures.
“A lot of people are hearing about it through the news rather than from their current leaders,” the source added.
The American Foreign Service Association, the union representing foreign service officers, said it was hearing stories of “bureaucratic ping-pong.”
“Families who have barely returned to their jobs and re-enrolled their children in school are being asked to prepare to evacuate again without being informed of the level of financial support they can count on,” a statement said Thursday.
Gamer, the AFSA spokesperson, told CNN that “families outside of Saudi Arabia have told AFSA they are being asked to leave without confirmed housing assistance or per diem.” They were told it was because their embassies were not changing their status from “restricted operations.”
Families often rely on these benefits to help them find housing and cover unexpected costs related to uprooting their home abroad, especially if their diplomatic family member remains at the embassy as an essential worker.
“Families deserve to know how they are going to pay for housing before they board a plane,” Gamer said.
The State Department official said: “We understand how difficult it is for our diplomatic personnel and their families to be in restricted operations, authorized departure or ordered departure status. »
“We are committed to using all available tools to help families through this difficult time, including additional expenses and schooling,” they said. “We are communicating directly with staff affected by these latest changes and will have more to say in the coming days. »
This story has been updated with additional details.
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