The Trump administration has been criticized for failing to plan for a potential conflict between Iran and the Middle East, where thousands of Americans are stranded due to Iran's retaliatory actions against the U.S. The State Department issued new advisories warning Americans to reconsider traveling to several countries, but it was too late. The situation has led to criticism from Democratic lawmakers and current and former State Department officials, including former diplomats, who believe the administration's drastic cuts to the workforce and inability to nominate ambassadors for several Arab countries affected by the crisis left it shorthanded. The White House responded by saying it had done more to warn Americans and help those stuck overseas.