washington u.s. secretary state rex tillerson wednesday outline staff america first agenda translate foreign policy address trump administration propose budget cut worry many diplomats first time tillerson address employees since first day job feb. speak hundreds state department officials build lobby thorough explanation yet trump administration approach foreign policy ally even u.s. officials interpret republican president donald trump america first agenda put americans interest home ahead partner overseas threat retreat world tillerson say u.s. foreign policy priorities get little bite balance previous decades unite state focus promote economic activity trade emerge economies really important relationships us really important alliances get bring back balance say speak without note walk around stage pack state department auditorium also signal unite state would de-emphasize human right concern interactions countries say u.s. value remain constant policies adapt condition heavily others must adopt value come long history really create obstacles ability advance national security interest economic interest tillerson say tillerson give tour u.s. priorities around world include east asia russia africa western hemisphere omit europe regard north korea nuclear program tillerson say administration will use so-called secondary sanction target foreign company continue business pyongyang contravention unite nations sanction pressure campaign north korea dial set right tillerson say china tillerson say unite state tremendous opportunity define relationship superpower next several decades sense great interest chinese leadership well defense secretary jim mattis chair dialogue chinese counterparts june addition dialogue focus economics trade lead treasury secretary steven mnuchin commerce secretary wilbur ross tillerson say tell russian president vladimir putin visit moscow last month u.s.-russia relations low point since cold war disagree tillerson say shrug shoulder nod agreement remark last nearly 40 minutes tillerson address administration propose 28 percent budget cut u.s. diplomacy foreign aid would reduce fund unite nations climate change cultural exchange program proposal make many american diplomats aid workers anxious trump administration also name candidates vast majority state department position require senate confirmation many fill career diplomats act position tillerson begin remark thank officials applause crowd one veteran official watch speech criticize tillerson use america first slogan phrase use 1930s isolationists seek keep unite state world war two fact still use america first show know nothing history bad care offensive say official request anonymity tillerson remark follow invitation state department u.s. agency international development employees week participate online survey help identify efficiency improvements line march directive trump reorganize governmental function eliminate unnecessary agencies speech secretary urge employees fill survey give input reform agency tillerson say state department like many institutions build cold war era say recognize deep change state department really stressful lot people say administration preconceive notions outcome review one state department official fault tillerson talk detail budget cut well take question employees previous secretaries state include colin powell condoleezza rice hillary clinton hold question-and-answer sessions state department employees within weeks take office want make look like talk us appearance substance say official speak condition anonymity two state department officials however speak highly tillerson remark say early expect take question rank file say provide guidance foreign policy challenge reorganize department understand folks want detail think place provide detail say one officials expect state department budget cut big takeaway put big-girl britches look back feel like part make reform happen u.s. need balance foreign alliances tillerson