By Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has designated a national security attorney, who joined the Foreign Service merely four years prior, as the chief administrator responsible for managing the State Department’s international personnel, reported three individuals privy to this information along with an internal memo obtained by .
Hiring Lew Olowski to lead the department's Global Talent Management Bureau occurs as President Donald Trump reduces the size of the federal workforce and seeks to overhaul the U.S. diplomatic service with the aim of ensuring steadfast execution of his "America First" agenda.
Olowski worked as a senior advisor for the Department of Homeland Security during President Donald Trump’s initial term. According to officials, he was appointed as the Senior Bureau Officer within the department's Global Talent Management Bureau.
In 2021, Olowski joined the foreign service and will now step into a role usually held by seasoned diplomats such as ambassadors, most of whom have accumulated extensive years of expertise.
This step follows as Trump aims to reshape the U.S. diplomatic team to guarantee a focused execution of his "America First" agenda.
His selection caused tremors within the State Department staff and prompted opposition from the American Foreign Service Association, representing foreign service officers. They expressed significant concern over Olowski's appointment, drawing parallels to assigning a junior military officer oversight of the Pentagon’s personnel system, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
"The decision to appoint a junior officer with just one full international deployment under their belt to such a crucial position, even temporarily, shows both a disregard for established traditions and communicates clearly where this administration stands regarding experience and career development," stated the association.
Initially, it wasn’t evident when the administration planned to put forward a nominee for the role of Director General of the Foreign Service, a position requiring Senate approval.
"MOMENT OF TRANSITION"
In an internal message sent to certain employees at the State Department, Catherine Rodriguez—a former ambassador leading the Global Talent Management Bureau since the beginning of the Trump administration—referred to the recent period as a significant “moment of profound change.” She encouraged staffers to extend a warm welcome to Olowski, who is set to assume this new position starting from next week.
A minimum of one diplomatic official has considered quitting due to this appointment.
Kent Longsdon, a seasoned diplomat and ex-ambassador to Moldova who had previously held the position of principal deputy assistant secretary in the division that Olowski was set to oversee, announced his intention to resign in opposition during a gathering at the State Department on Thursday. This information comes from two U.S. officials privy to the discussion.
Longsdon directed all inquiries to the State Department.
"A State Department representative declined to comment on internal personnel issues" when questioned regarding Olowski’s appointment.
The State Department’s approximately 70,000 employees worldwide are preparing for possible layoffs and the closure of some U.S. embassies abroad, as President Trump, along with tech mogul Elon Musk, pushes forward with plans to reduce the federal government staff.
Olowski is part of the Benjamin Franklin fellowship, which comprises numerous people who previously worked with Trump, such as the present Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau.
In February, Trump signed an executive order instructing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to overhaul the foreign service to guarantee "faithful and effective execution" of Trump's international policy objectives.
The directive stated that not executing the president's program could lead to professional disciplinary actions, potentially resulting in the dismissal of staff members.
Throughout his campaign, he consistently vowed to "purge the deep state" by dismissing government officials who he believes lack loyalty.
Trump, along with Musk, has already fired thousands of federal workers and dismantled Washington's top aid agency U.S. Agency for International Development, jeopardizing the delivery of life-saving food and medical aid and disrupting global humanitarian relief efforts.
(Humeyra Pamuk reported this story; editing was done by Don Durfee and Diane Craft)