Statement from MFAN Executive Director Tod Preston on State Department’s Revised Reorganization Proposal

The CN anticipates cuts to State Dept staff through buy-outs and RIFs and consolidation of Bureaus and offices to make it more “agile” to attain the “speed of relevancy.”  The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) noted that this latest version now provides for a Senate-confirmed Undersecretary of State for Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs to provide leadership on (diminished) development and humanitarian aid efforts, noting that Regional Bureaus remain in the drivers seat for these programs. MFAN also highlighted further strengthening of State’s ability to respond to disasters by designating a Senate-confirmed Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, continuing the use of Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and hiring more USAID/BHA staff and creating an office for humanitarian logistics and operations.