washington rex tillerson dog media speculation long last u.s. secretary state try tuesday ease skepticism among staff leadership plan state department reorganization tillerson alienate staff rely narrow group aid nudge department senior foreign service officials make erroneous statements top echelon u.s. diplomats recent appearance town hall meet state department chief u.s. diplomat lay step merge agency email list allow telecommuting employees partially ease hire freeze part effort win workers unhappy previously announce plan reduce staff carry white house propose 30 percent budget cut tillerson break new grind speech policy challenge north korean iranian nuclear program syria civil war russia occupation crimea among organizational step lay move cloud-based systems email collaboration integrate state department u.s. agency international development email address list end hire freeze eligible family members employees many state department officials frustrate hire freeze family members mean spouses often unable work u.s. embassies state department say wide hire freeze would remain tillerson also announce plan allow workers abroad evacuate medical reason telecommute streamline process obtain security clearances include allow intern work interim clearances simplify department computer system interfaces tillerson aid say need make strong case reorganization initiatives announce draw applause five six state department officials interview remark say think town hall would much ease skepticism tillerson reorganization plan little late say one official speak condition anonymity president donald trump undercut tillerson issue north korea president say secretary state waste time pursue diplomacy tillerson inaccurate statements title age state department recently retire top officials rankle staff suggest grasp agency inner work limit one many things show administration whole fundamentally understand diplomacy work richard boucher former assistant secretary south central asia say monday tillerson seek ease skepticism u.s. state department reorganization