U.S. Department of State
United States government
Also known as: State Department
Quick Facts
- Also called:
- State Department
- Date:
- 1789 - present
- Areas Of Involvement:
- What Does the Secretary of State Do?
- foreign policy
- Related People:
- Alger Hiss
News •
Trump administration tells embassies to rein in criticism of foreign elections
• July 17, 2025, 7:02 PM ET (AP)
US says it destroyed 500 metric tons of expired food aid but it won't affect future distribution
• July 17, 2025, 5:58 PM ET (AP)
State Department layoffs affect key Trump priorities like intelligence, energy and China
• July 17, 2025, 12:01 AM ET (AP)
The Latest: Trump flip-flops over whether he’ll fire the Fed’s Powell
• July 16, 2025, 7:26 PM ET (AP)
US deports immigrants from Jamaica, Cuba and other countries to the African kingdom of Eswatini
• July 16, 2025, 3:44 PM ET (AP)
U.S. Department of State, executive division of the U.S. federal government responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy. Established in 1789, it is the oldest of the federal departments and the president’s principal means of conducting treaty negotiations and forging agreements with foreign countries. Under its administration are the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, the Foreign Service Institute, and various offices of diplomatic security, foreign intelligence, policy analysis, international narcotics control, protocol, and passport services.