Secretary of State Marco Rubio's plan to streamline what he called the "bloated" State Department by slashing staff and closing or consolidating bureaus was widely criticized Tuesday as a dangerous retreat from diplomacy and soft power that would weaken U.

A proposed reorganization of the State Department would eliminate an office whose official goal is to build “more democratic, secure, stable, and just societies.”

Marco Rubio's first step toward overhauling the State Department is drawing fierce criticisms. The secretary's second step might actually be worse.