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yesterday

State Department Reassigns Casualty Assistance Roles to Generalist Bureaus

Critics warn that collapsing the specialized office into broader talent and employee relations bureaus could erode institutional expertise in handling diplomat repatriations.

The seal of the United States Department of State is shown in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
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Overview

  • On July 16 and 17 the State Department announced that functions of the Office of Casualty Assistance have been transferred to the Bureau of Global Talent Management and the Office of Employee Relations.
  • Senior officials assert that casualty evacuation and repatriation capabilities remain fully intact under the new structure.
  • Democratic senators and former diplomats argue that eliminating a dedicated unit undermines rapid-response expertise and personalized family support.
  • Termination notices reached casualty assistance staff while they were coordinating the return of Brian Matthew Faughnan’s remains following his July 9 car crash in Coahuila.
  • The broader reorganization has cut more than 1,350 positions and closed over 130 offices as part of President Trump’s effort to streamline the State Department under ’America First’ priorities.