The Trump (R) Administration Appointed a National Security Lawyer, who entered the Foreign Service just Four years ago, as the Top Official Overseeing the State Department's Global Workforce. The Hiring of Lew Olowski to run the Department's Global Talent Management Bureau, comes as Trump Shrinks the Federal Workforce and looks to Revamp the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, to ensure a Dedicated Implementation of His "America First" Policies.
Lew Olowski is a National Security Lawyer who served as Senior Counselor at the Department of Homeland Security during President Trump's First Term, where His Practice areas included Border Security, China Policy, Trade Enforcement, and Humanitarian Law. Olowski, who entered the Foreign Service in 2021, will temporarily Fill a Position traditionally occupied by Veteran Foreign Service Officers, including Ambassadors, typically with Decades of Experience. The move comes as Trump is looking to Revamp the U.S. Diplomatic Corps to ensure a Dedicated implementation of His "America First" Policies.
His Appointment sent Shockwaves across the State Department Workforce, and drew an Objection from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which Represents Foreign Service Officers, saying it was "Deeply Concerning" to Appoint Olowski and compared the move to putting a Junior Military Officer in Charge of the Pentagon’s Personnel System. "Placing an untenured, entry-level officer who has only served one complete overseas tour into this critical role, even in an acting capacity, not only disregards that tradition but also sends a clear message about the value this administration places on experience and professional progression," the Association said in a Statement.
It was not immediately clear when the administration was planning to nominate a Director General for the Foreign Service, which is a Senate Confirmed Position. In an Internal Email to some State Department Staff, Olowski's Predecessor Catherine Rodriguez (R), a former Ambassador who had led the Global Talent Management Bureau, since the Start of the Trump Administration, described the past few months as a "Profound Moment of Transition" and urged Staff to welcome Olowski, who will take up His New Role starting next week. At least One Diplomat has Threatened to Resign over the Appointment.
Kent Longsdon (R), a Career Diplomat and a former Ambassador to Moldova, who served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau that Olowski would be Leading, said He would Quit in Protest, in a Meeting on Thursday at the State Department, Two U.S. Officials familiar with the Conversation said. Longsdon referred any Queries to the State Department. "We are not going to comment on internal personnel matters," a State Department Spokesperson said when asked about Olowski's Appointment.
The State Department's nearly 70,000 Global Workforce is bracing for potential Job Cuts and Closures of U.S. Overseas Missions as Trump, with the help of Musk, presses ahead with an effort to Cut the Federal Workforce.
Olowski is a Ben Franklin Fellow, a Network that includes many Individuals who have Served under Trump, including the current Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau (R). In February, Trump issued an Executive Order directing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) to Revamp the Foreign Service to ensure "faithful and effective implementation" of Trump's Foreign Policy Agenda.
The Order said Failure to Implement Trump's Agenda, is Grounds for Professional Discipline, which may result in the Termination of Personnel. During Trump's Campaign, He had repeatedly Pledged to "clean out the deep state" by Firing Bureaucrats that He deems Disloyal. Trump, along with Musk, has already Fired Thousands of Federal Workers and Dismantled Washington's Top Aid Agency U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), jeopardizing the Delivery of Life-Saving Food and Medical Aid, and Disrupting Global Humanitarian Relief Efforts.
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