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.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has unveiled his plan to streamline a department that he says has become too bloated over the years. He's cutting 132 offices and about 700 jobs at the state department