Ex-Obama diplomat slams politicized appointments: 'I expected more from this administration'

A career diplomat who has worked under the Obama and Bush administrations is criticizing newly sworn-in President Biden for what he considers appointing party-favored and well-connected individuals to high-ranking State Department posts over knowledgeable diplomats.

"That should not be the path to the top national security positions, we should choose them based on experience," said Brett Bruen, career diplomat and director of global engagement in the Obama White House, who is now president of the Global Situation Room. 

"We should choose them based on the fact that they are going to live beyond an administration, they're going to live beyond a party," Bruen told "Just the News AM" on Friday.

About two-thirds of U.S. ambassadors usually come from the Foreign Service, and the rest are political appointees, according to an NPR story in August 2020.

Keeping career diplomats in their posts is intended to ensure the country's best possible relations with foreign countries and the United States' continued security. 

Still, administrations have for decades appointed favorites with little previous experience to overseas posts. 

Trump appointed New York Jets owner Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

President Obama appointed Democratic donor Cynthia Stroum as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

"When the decision makers don't have the benefit of that information in those high level policy decision making processes — and I've seen it firsthand — mistakes are made," Bruen said. "It becomes really challenging for even the implementation of policy when you don't have the benefit of those who are responsible for carrying it out in the room."