washington u.s. secretary state rex tillerson last month tighten control state department take back power previously hold top career foreign service officer action critics say would delay major decisions marginalize career diplomats move retract broad decision-making authority grant agency third-highest rank official undersecretary political affairs former secretary state hillary clinton power reserve instead tillerson deputy tillerson broadly review authority delegate state department official say result streamline delegations promote great transparency clarity effectiveness decision-making within department july 17 tillerson reverse clinton 2009 decision empower undersecretary political affairs currently career diplomat thomas shannon authorities function vest secretary state former officials say clinton delegation authority helpful allow decisions make quickly deputy travel abroad everyone travel time job right diplomat say former state department official serve obama administration request anonymity delegation authority work simply get do tillerson decision come high-level position state department either empty fill career officials act capacity secretary say want cautious hire conduct review state department organization tuesday tillerson acknowledge reporters lot open slot say able accomplish great deal remarkable talented professional foreign service officer build slow pace appointments logjammed decision-making result rank-and-file bureaucracy disconnect top officials diplomats members congress say know policies diplomats know policies senator ben cardin senior democrat senate foreign relations committee say tuesday second authority tillerson take back undersecretary political affairs july approval state department report congress sit office policy plan internal state department body usually head political appointee unlike senior officials office director staff need senate confirmation state department require law produce hundreds report congress year include act terrorism human right condition different countries countries narcotics control strategies state religious freedom around world human traffic typically report prepare offices embassies expertise relevant issue review state department bureau legislative affairs top aid secretary state send congress three former officials say give policy plan staff final sign-off report could inject political considerations preparation undersecretary political affairs typically career foreign service officer oversee seven regional bureaus move represent power grab policy plan body say eliot cohen serve state department counselor former president george w. bush administration need strong undersecretary political affairs cohen say run state department tiny office ... need go establish good work relationships professionals department tillerson tighten rein state department