Policy Update: ECA Remains Intact Amidst Major State Department Reorganization

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Written By Adrienne Jacobs

This morning, Secretary of State Rubio shared his vision for a reorganization of the Department of State, including a new org chart, attached here. The two most important takeaways for international exchanges are: 

  • ECA and PD remain intact 

  • This reorganization is not a Reduction in Force (RIF)  

In a Substack post, the Secretary includes more details for the rationale behind the reorganization.

In a follow-up email to staff, Deputy Secretary of State (D) Chris Landau outlined an ongoing reorganization process led by an internal working group led by the yet-to-be-confirmed Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources. Until then, the group will be led by Acting Under Secretary Jose Cunningham. The email details the intent to carry out the reorganization process bureau by bureau by July 1. Some other key points from D’s email are: 

  • The process will be a “streamlining” of the Department’s reporting lines and workforce, but ongoing programming will not be impacted for the time being. 

  • Programming will proceed “consistent with relevant authorities, which indicates they are aware of the statutory authority of many Department activities, including ECA. 

  • Today’s reorganization focuses solely on domestic offices, not overseas embassies, posts, or operations. Under Secretaries are being asked to submit proposals for 15% domestic staffing cuts. 

While this is good news for ECA today, the fact remains that we expect the President’s budget to include significant cuts to the ECE line. How does this reorganization plan that seemingly leaves ECA untouched for the moment square with the fact that the Department of State is recommending drastic cuts to ECE to go in the President’s budget request? 

It's important to continue to keep an eye on this ball. Today, minimal damage was inflicted on ECA, but there are still forces at play that would see the Bureau abolished.  

Adrienne Jacobs

Assistant Director and Head of Advocacy and Government Relations

Adrienne Jacobs joined the Alliance as Assistant Director and Head of Advocacy and Government Relations in 2024 after nearly seven years of work on the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at IREX. Prior to the Fellowship, Adrienne worked for two years on the Senate Budget Committee for then Ranking Member Senator Bernard Sanders. She excels at program and government relations, partnership building, and strategic planning, and is eager to use her combined experience and expertise in her role at the Alliance.

Adrienne has a bachelor’s in International Relations and Diplomacy from Schiller International University and a master’s in Peace Research and Security Policy from the University of Hamburg, both in Germany where she studied abroad.

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