March 13, 2017
Can America function with fewer than 33 assistant secretaries of state?
By Ed Straker
The New York Times is again making hay of the fact that President Trump has not nominated any assistant secretaries of state, and Trump has been giving mixed signals on whether he thinks they are even necessary.
It turns out there are six undersecretaries of state and 22 assistant secretaries of state who report to them. If you factor in those with equivalent ranks, there are actually more like 33 assistant secretaries of state, each making an average of $155,000 a year, plus benefits!
Seven of the assistant secretaries cover different regions of the world, which makes some sense. You can't have all ambassadors reporting directly to the secretary of state.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
But after these posts, it makes less and less sense. Let's go over the rest of the list.
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
The State Department has an intelligence branch? I have never heard of it. Well, except maybe this guy (paragraph eight).
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
Why does a congressional liaison need to have the rank of assistant secretary?
Assistant Secretary of State for Administration
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security
The assistant secretary of state for administration deals with administering what? The consulates, I'll bet! Why, then, do we need another secretary for consular affairs? And since diplomatic security is so integral to consulates, why can't this all be wrapped into one job, rather than three?
Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
This post I sort of understand, if an American business has a dispute with a foreign government.
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
There are no governments in the sea to interact with. If we have an ocean border dispute with a country – say, Canada – that can be handled by the Canadian desk.
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Information Programs
What sort of "educational" programs does the State Department run? Have you ever heard of the State Department educating anyone? The rest sounds like the same thing: public affairs. Is Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, an assistant secretary? No. He's just a spokesman. This job should exist, but not at the rank of assistant secretary.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation
Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance
Political military affairs are important, such as negotiating base rights and troops accessing countries. But "International Security" and "Arms Control" sound like similar topics and should be folded into one job.
Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
I have no idea what this group does. I went to their official webpage, and I still have no idea.
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) advances the Department of State's understanding of violent conflict through analysis and planning; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and targeted, in-country efforts that help the U.S. government anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict and promote long-term stability.
Until someone can explain what this is, this job should be terminated.
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The State Department has not created any democracies. Nor has it improved human rights. Nor should it be involved in labor.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
The State Department hasn't been involved in narcotics interdiction in years. The Treasury Department has been doing the heavy lifting declaring who the drug dealers are.
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
I think we've had enough refugees and migration for a while, don't you?
The following roles also possess a rank equivalent to assistant secretary:
Chief of Protocol of the United States
We need a protocol officer. But not at the rank of assistant secretary.
Coordinator for Counterterrorism
The State Department has little to do with counterterrorism.
Executive Secretary of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Inspector General of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Director General of the Foreign Service
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Director of Policy Planning
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues
I haven't heard of the ambassador-at-large doing a single thing for oppressed Muslim women. I don't care how large the ambassador-at-large is; his job should be terminated.
United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
This position rarely has much to do.
United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
This position doesn't seem to do much.
United States Global AIDS Coordinator
AIDS doesn't need coordination. It spreads on its own.
By my count, maybe – just maybe – there is a need for ten assistant secretaries. The other positions can be terminated without anyone noticing or else their jobs transferred to lower-ranking officials. That barely scratches the surface, of course, of all the lower-ranking jobs that can be easily eliminated.
< >
Can America function with fewer than 33 assistant secretaries of state?
By Ed Straker
The New York Times is again making hay of the fact that President Trump has not nominated any assistant secretaries of state, and Trump has been giving mixed signals on whether he thinks they are even necessary.
It turns out there are six undersecretaries of state and 22 assistant secretaries of state who report to them. If you factor in those with equivalent ranks, there are actually more like 33 assistant secretaries of state, each making an average of $155,000 a year, plus benefits!
Seven of the assistant secretaries cover different regions of the world, which makes some sense. You can't have all ambassadors reporting directly to the secretary of state.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
But after these posts, it makes less and less sense. Let's go over the rest of the list.
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
The State Department has an intelligence branch? I have never heard of it. Well, except maybe this guy (paragraph eight).
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
Why does a congressional liaison need to have the rank of assistant secretary?
Assistant Secretary of State for Administration
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security
The assistant secretary of state for administration deals with administering what? The consulates, I'll bet! Why, then, do we need another secretary for consular affairs? And since diplomatic security is so integral to consulates, why can't this all be wrapped into one job, rather than three?
Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
This post I sort of understand, if an American business has a dispute with a foreign government.
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
There are no governments in the sea to interact with. If we have an ocean border dispute with a country – say, Canada – that can be handled by the Canadian desk.
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Information Programs
What sort of "educational" programs does the State Department run? Have you ever heard of the State Department educating anyone? The rest sounds like the same thing: public affairs. Is Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, an assistant secretary? No. He's just a spokesman. This job should exist, but not at the rank of assistant secretary.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation
Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance
Political military affairs are important, such as negotiating base rights and troops accessing countries. But "International Security" and "Arms Control" sound like similar topics and should be folded into one job.
Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
I have no idea what this group does. I went to their official webpage, and I still have no idea.
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) advances the Department of State's understanding of violent conflict through analysis and planning; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and targeted, in-country efforts that help the U.S. government anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict and promote long-term stability.
Until someone can explain what this is, this job should be terminated.
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The State Department has not created any democracies. Nor has it improved human rights. Nor should it be involved in labor.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
The State Department hasn't been involved in narcotics interdiction in years. The Treasury Department has been doing the heavy lifting declaring who the drug dealers are.
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
I think we've had enough refugees and migration for a while, don't you?
The following roles also possess a rank equivalent to assistant secretary:
Chief of Protocol of the United States
We need a protocol officer. But not at the rank of assistant secretary.
Coordinator for Counterterrorism
The State Department has little to do with counterterrorism.
Executive Secretary of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Inspector General of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Director General of the Foreign Service
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
Director of Policy Planning
A necessary job, but not an assistant secretary.
United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues
I haven't heard of the ambassador-at-large doing a single thing for oppressed Muslim women. I don't care how large the ambassador-at-large is; his job should be terminated.
United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
This position rarely has much to do.
United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
This position doesn't seem to do much.
United States Global AIDS Coordinator
AIDS doesn't need coordination. It spreads on its own.
By my count, maybe – just maybe – there is a need for ten assistant secretaries. The other positions can be terminated without anyone noticing or else their jobs transferred to lower-ranking officials. That barely scratches the surface, of course, of all the lower-ranking jobs that can be easily eliminated.
< >
1
