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Dear Board of Directors,

In one of the first outputs of the “Redesign” process, Secretary Tillerson this week sent a letter to Senator Corker advising lawmakers of his recommendations to consolidate and eliminate numerous special envoys and positions at the State Department.

Over the years, the number of special envoys and representatives have ballooned to nearly 70 positions with overlapping jurisdictions between State Department, USAID, and other agencies. Given this, the principle of reducing the overall number of special envoys at State has garnered wide, bipartisan support. The USGLC has largely aligned with the concept of fewer envoys without taking any specific positions, as we have forged a voice on efficiency.

A few highlights to note:

* In announcing what amounts to his first substantive “reorganization”, Tillerson wrote: “I believe the department will be able to better execute its mission by integrating certain envoys and special representative office within the regional and functional bureaus, and eliminating those that have accomplished or outlived their original purpose.”
* A number of these changes will require Congressional approval, and Corker signaled his support to his colleagues for Tillerson’s approach, stating "Through the years, numbers of special envoys have accumulated at the State Department…has done more harm than good by creating an environment in which people work around the normal diplomatic processes in lieu of streamlining them.”
* Some of the recommendations will be seen as positive for our community including:
* Moving State Department’s Global Food Security Office to USAID;
* Combining the PEPFAR position with the U.S. Special Rep for Global Health;
* Maintaining the Women’s Global Ambassador, special envoy for Israel-Palestinian Negotiations, and Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs.
* Some of the recommendations may raise concerns including:
* Elimination of special envoys to Sudan and South Sudan;
* Elimination of Transparency Coordinator.
* A number of envoys are maintained but integrated into State bureaus including on religious freedom, LGBT rights, war crimes, and anti-Semitism.
* Other envoys are eliminated altogether including those focused on championing rights for the disabled, promoting peace in Africa, and special representative to Muslim Communities with the belief that these issues will be handled by existing bureaus.

We’ve prepared an analysis along with a full summary of the recommendations below. Welcome your thoughts.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

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Secretary Tillerson’s Recommendations on Special Envoys

August 30, 2017

I. Analysis of Recommendations

Positive Highlights:

* Move State Department’s Global Food Security Office to USAID – Reduces duplication and elevates USAID as America’s lead agency on food security.
* Maintain Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues – Sends signal that the administration is committed to empowering women and girls.
* Combine PEPFAR Coordinator position with U.S. Special Representative for Global Health – Reduces duplication at State Department on global health, will be accompanied by request to expand the title to include both positions.
* Maintain Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center – Suggests the administration committed to public diplomacy against ISIS and other terrorist groups after controversy over spending authorized funds.

Potential Concerns:

* Eliminate U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan – Given the ongoing conflict and famine in South Sudan, could hamper the United States’ ability to develop a coordinated response to tackle violence and poverty issues.
* Eliminate the position of Transparency Coordinator (and moving its responsibility to the Management Bureau) – Could jeopardize attention to the issue and the progress the Department has made so far.
* Move U.S. Special Representative for Global Partnerships to the Management Bureau – Not moving position to the Economic Growth Bureau could be problematic since the office’s main responsibility is forging strategic partnerships with the private sector.

Other Changes of Note:

Most proposals could streamline the bureaucracy to enable better decision-making but are more specific issues than USGLC’s broad coalition engages on. Examples include:

* The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons (position retained and a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* U.S. Special Advisor for International Disabilities Rights (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative for International Labor Affairs (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism (position retained fully with resources and staff)

* The Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom (position expanded) – Report to the Under Secretary
* Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/Central Asia (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative to Muslim Communities (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (title eliminated)

Congressional authorization is required to:

* Eliminate three special envoys: the Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, and U.S. Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma.
* Dual-hat the Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally and the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Policy;

II. Full Summary of Recommendations

Office of the Secretary

* Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations (position retained)
* The Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff will take on the responsibilities of:
* Coordinator for Sanctions Policy (title eliminated)
* The Senior Advisor to the Secretary (completely eliminated and realigned)

PEPFAR

* The Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally and the U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Policy positions will be combined and expanded.

Special Representative for Global Food Security

* Move to USAID

Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

* The Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues (position retained with resources and staff) – Report to either Bureau or the Under Secretary
* The Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom (position expanded) – Report to the Under Secretary
* Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/Central Asia (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative to Muslim Communities (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (title eliminated)

* The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (position retained fully with resources and staff) – Report to the Under Secretary
* Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism (position retained)
* Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (position retained)
* Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (position retained)
* The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons (position retained and a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* U.S. Special Advisor for International Disabilities Rights (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative for International Labor Affairs (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism (position retained fully with resources and staff)

* The Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism will take on the responsibilities of:
* Senior Advisor for Partner Engagement on Syria Foreign Fighters (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment

* Chief Economist (position retained)
* Science and Technology Adviser (position retained)
* Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs (requires Congress to remove statutory requirement) to be assumed by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources
* The Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Representative for the Arctic Region (title eliminated)

* The Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs (position retained)
* U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* Senior Coordinator for International Information Technology Diplomacy (title eliminated)
* Coordinator for Cyber Issues (title eliminated)

Under Secretary for Management

* The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Special Representative (completely eliminated and reassigned)
* The Transparency Coordinator (completely eliminated and reassigned)
* The Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation will take on the responsibilities of:
* U.S. Special Representative for Global Partnerships (title eliminated)

* The Bureau of Consular Affairs
* Special Advisor for Children’s Issues (position retained)

Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs

* Permanent Representative for Conference on Disarmament (position retained)
* Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) Issues (position retained)
* The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation will take on the responsibilities of:
* Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs (position retained)
* Special Negotiator for Plutonium Disposition (position retained)
* Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation (position retained)
* Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation (title eliminated)

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

* The Special Advisor for Global Youth Issues (completely eliminated and reassigned)
* Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center (position retained)

Under Secretary for Political Affairs

* The Bureau of African Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa & Democratic Republic of Congo (title eliminated)
* U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan (requires Congress to remove statutory requirement)

* The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Representative for North Korea Policy (position retained)
* U.S. Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma (requires Congress to remove statutory requirement)
* The Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks (completely eliminated and reassigned)

* The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* Israel and the Palestinian Authority, U.S. Security Coordinator (position retained)
* Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (position retained)
* Special Coordinator for Libya and Senior Advisor for MEK Resettlement (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* U.S. Special Envoy for Syria – (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)

* The Bureau European and Eurasian Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues (position expanded)
* Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (position retained)
* Special Representative to OSCE (position retained)
* Senior Representative to Minsk Group (title eliminated but a DAS will assume the responsibility)
* The Personal Representative for Northern Ireland Issues (completely eliminated and reassigned)

* The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* Special Coordinator for Haiti (title eliminated)
* The U.S. Special Envoy for the Closure of Guantanamo Detention Facility (completely eliminated and reassigned)
* The Special Envoy for the Colombian Peace Process (completely eliminated and reassigned)

* The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs will take on the responsibilities of:
* U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (title eliminated)