The Honorable Bob Corker Chairman Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate Washington DC 20510 Dear Mr Chairman Consistent with my commitment to Congress I alert you to and seek your feedback on steps we are considering to improve the ability of the U S Department of State and USAID to achieve critical foreign policy goals that are currently the responsibility of special envoys or special representatives Over the past four decades of U S diplomacy Congress and the President have utilized these positions to assert U S leadership abroad and address emerging challenges A few examples include mediating peace in Northern Ireland restoring full diplomatic relations with Burma addressing threats to global health and serving as representatives to international organizations Today nearly seventy such positions exist within the State Department even after many of the underlying policy challenges these positions were created to address have been resolved I believe that the Department will be able to better execute its mission by integrating certain envoys and special representative offices within the regional and functional bureaus and eliminating those that have accomplished or outlived their original purpose In some cases the State Department would leave in place several positions and offices while in other cases positions and offices would be either consolidated or integrated with the most appropriate bureau If an issue no longer requires a special envoy or representative then an appropriate bureau will manage any legacy responsibilities This integration will address concerns that under the current structure a special envoy or representative can circumvent the regional and functional bureaus that make up the core of the State Department In each case the allocated budget staff members and responsibilities would be reallocated to the appropriate bureau Issues that require high-level interaction with senior foreign officials will be assigned to a senior official to whom authority is delegated to conduct such diplomacy In addition this integration would also eliminate redundancies that dilute the ability of a bureau to deliver on its primary functions Empowering regional and functional bureaus will make knowledge and resources more accessible provide clarity in reporting authority strengthen communication channels and create a more efficient State Department The goal of restructuring these offices is to ensure that each policy priority efficiently aligns with the resources housed in the regional and functional bureaus In this regard I have determined that the changes proposed will advance U S national security interests and will help to counter the influence of U S adversaries and competitors Pursuant to section 7015 a and 7034 l of the Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2017 Div J P L 115-31 the Department is notifying and reporting to the Committees on certain organizational changes related to special envoys and related positions Additionally I have also reported on changes to special envoys and related positions that do not require notification to the Committees I look forward to working with you to make the State Department and USAID better equipped to address the foreign policy challenges of the United States Sincerely Rex W Tillerson Secretary of State --- In accordance with section 7015 a and 7034 l of the Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2017 Div J P L 115-31 the Department is notifying and reporting to the Committees on certain organizational changes related to special envoys and related positions Personnel and funding levels are based on full-year allocations for FY 2017 The following ambassador-at-large and special envoy positions will be retained and organized within the appropriate bureau or Under Secretary The Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues will continue to be an ambassador level position confirmed by the U S Senate which will report to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J where it will continue to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls through U S foreign policy This will involve realigning 28 positions and $5 326 000 in support costs within Diplomatic and Consular Programs D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J The U S Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism will be retained and the office returned to the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL where the Special Envoy can be assisted by the entire team of experts in the bureau This will involve realigning 2 positions and $130 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs will be retained and report to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J where it will continue to lead and coordinate the U S government’s diplomatic engagement on hostage-related matters This will involve realigning 5 positions and $505 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J --- The following ambassador-at-large and special envoy positions will be retained and expanded The Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom IRF will continue to be an ambassador-level position confirmed by the U S Senate and will be organized under and report to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J Additionally IRF will assume the functions and staff of the U S Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs U S Special Representative to Muslim Communities U S Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia For the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia this will involve the realignment of 1 position and $139 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom IRF For the U S Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs this will involve removing the title and realigning 10 positions and $1 303 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom IRF For the U S Special Representative to Muslim Communities this will involve removing the title and realigning 4 positions and $163 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom IRF For the U S Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation this will involve removing the title and realigning 1 position and $153 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom IRF The Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of U S Government Activities to Combat HIV AIDS Globally S GAC will continue to be an ambassador-level position confirmed by the U S Senate and continue to perform the functions of the U S Special Representative for Global Health Policy S GHP We intend to request that Congress amend the statute to expand the title to include both positions to reflect a more comprehensive approach to global health There are no resource implications for this change Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues SEHI will be retained and continue to be organized within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs EUR SEHI will assume the functions which include providing policy advice on Holocaust issues and staff of the Special Adviser for Holocaust Issues There are no resource implications for this change --- The following special envoy special coordinator and special representative titles will be retained dual hatted with an existing position and organized appropriately within the appropriate bureau The Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs OES will be dual hatted as the Special Representative for Environment and Water Resources One position and $226 000 in support costs will be reprogrammed within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Oceans International Environmental and Scientific Affairs OES The Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues will continue to be dual hatted with the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J who will promote substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama There are no resource implications for this change The Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J will be dual hatted with the title and functions and assume the staff of the U S Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues The Under Secretary is responsible for the human rights portfolio including the publication of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices This will involve the realignment of 1 position and $224 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J --- The following special envoy function will be transferred to USAID The U S Agency for International Development USAID will assume the functions and staff of the Office of Global Food Security GFS This change will eliminate duplicative work and further empower USAID to continue to advance global food security effectively The Department will seek to realign GFS resources to USAID in future budget requests --- The following special envoy special representative special advisor and coordinator titles will be removed and the functions performed by the appropriate bureaus The following titles will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL U S Special Advisor for International Disabilities Rights Functions include leading the comprehensive strategy to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities internationally This will involve realigning 3 positions and $445 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL U S Special Representative for International Labor Affairs Functions include furthering U S foreign policy goals related to human rights democracy promotion trade and sustainable growth This will involve realigning 1 position and $186 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs OES U S Special Envoy for Climate Change Functions include engaging partners and allies around the world on climate change issues This will involve realigning 7 positions and $761 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs OES U S Special Representative for the Arctic Region Functions include advancing U S interests in the Arctic This will involve realigning 5 positions and $438 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs OES The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of African Affairs AF U S Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa Democratic Republic of Congo The Special Envoy position currently is organized in AF however the authorized staff positions and associated funding are currently in the Office of the Secretary and will be reprogrammed to AF This will involve realigning 4 positions and $957 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs AF U S Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan This will involve realigning 6 positions and $4 408 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs AF We intend to request that Congress repeal the statutory provision for this special envoy position since a deputy assistant secretary in AF already fulfills the responsibilities The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs EAP U S Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma We intend to request that Congress repeal of the statutory requirement for this special representative position since the mission of this position has been accomplished with the 2016 formation of a democratically elected civilian-led government and the rebuilding of relations with Burma Any legacy and future responsibilities will be addressed by EAP This will involve realigning 1 position and $224 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs EAP The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA will assign the functions of the Special Coordinator for Libya and Senior Advisor for MEK Resettlement SCL to a deputy assistant secretary The title will be removed and 2 positions and $379 000 in support costs will remain in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA will retain the functions of the U S Special Envoy for Syria The title will be removed and the functions continue to be performed by a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA The title will be removed and 2 positions and $379 000 in support costs will remain in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of Economic Business Affairs EB U S Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy The functions which include the formulation coordination and oversight of policy related to information and communication technology will be assigned to a deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Economic Business Affairs EB There are no resource implications in this change because they are staying within EB Senior Coordinator for International Information Technology Diplomacy Functions include coordinating with responsible departments and agencies on foreign policy efforts related to international information technology infrastructure and internet issues There is currently no position nor support cost for the Senior Coordinator for International Information Technology Diplomacy The functions will transfer from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Economic Business Affairs EB Coordinator for Cyber Issues CCI Functions encompass advancing the full range of U S interests in cyberspace including security economic issues freedom of expression and free flow of information on the internet This will involve realigning 23 positions and $5 497 000 in support costs from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Economic Business Affairs EB Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds Functions will continue to be performed by a deputy assistant secretary in the Economic Business Affairs Bureau EB There are no resource implications for this change The European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau EUR will retain the staff and functions of the Senior Representative to Minsk Group The title will be removed and the functions will continue to be performed by a deputy assistant secretary in the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau EUR One position and $182 000 in support costs will remain in the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau EUR The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs WHA will retain the functions and staff of the Special Coordinator for Haiti The title will be removed and 9 positions and $656 000 in support costs will remain in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs WHA The Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff S P will assume the functions and staff of the Coordinator for Sanctions Policy CSP S P will coordinate a comprehensive sanctions policy This will involve removing the title and realigning 7 positions and $831 000 in support costs within the Office of the Secretary’s D CP allocation from the CSP office to the Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff S P The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs SCA will assume the functions and staff of the U S Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and coordinate across the government to meet U S strategic goals in the region This will involve removing the title and sustaining the realignment of 9 positions and $1 985 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs SCA Given the Administration’s recent South Asia policy announcement the Secretary will consider options regarding diplomatic responsibilities in the region as needed The Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism CT retain the functions and staff of the Senior Advisor for Partner Engagement on Syria Foreign Fighters The title will be removed and functions continued to be performed by a deputy assistant secretary There are no funding implications for this change The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation ISN will assume functions and staff of the Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation including ensuring that the nuclear steps to which Iran committed in the JCPOA are fully implemented and verified This will involve removing the title and realigning 5 positions and $1 208 000 in support costs from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation ISN The Office of Management Policy Rightsizing and Innovation M PRI will assume the functions and staff of the U S Special Representative for Global Partnerships M PRI will continue to strengthen and deepen U S diplomacy and development around the world through partnerships that leverage the creativity innovation and core business resources of partners for greater impact This will involve removing the title and realigning 14 positions and $443 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary and the Bureau of the Comptroller and General Financial Services to the Office of the Under Secretary for Management The Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources ENR will continue to perform the responsibilities of the Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs We intend to request that Congress repeal the statutory requirement for this coordinator position since the Assistant Secretary already fulfills the responsibilities --- The following special envoy special representative special advisor coordinator and related positions will be removed or retired The Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks position will be removed as the talks ceased in 2008 One position and $224 000 in support costs will be realigned within the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs EAP The Transparency Coordinator position will be removed Legacy or future responsibilities will be addressed by the Under Secretary for Management M Three positions and $165 000 in support costs within the D CP will be reprogrammed from the Office of the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Management M The Special Advisor for Global Youth Issues position will be removed The portfolio of helping the U S Government engage young people internationally falls within the scope of the Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs R There is no support cost for this position The Special Envoy for the Colombian Peace Process position will be removed and the functions assumed by the Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau WHA There is no position established for this special envoy and $5 000 in support costs within D CP will be reprogrammed from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs WHA The Personal Representative for Northern Ireland Issues position will be retired The 1998 Good Friday Agreement has been implemented with a devolved national assembly in Belfast now in place Legacy and future responsibilities will be assigned to the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs EUR This will involve realigning $50 000 in support costs within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs EUR The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Special Representative position will be removed The State Department is undergoing an updated review process under the Presidential Executive Order on reorganizing the executive branch This will involve realigning 8 positions and $1 247 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Management M The U S Special Envoy for the Closure of Guantanamo Detention Facility position will be removed Any legacy and future responsibilities will be assigned to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs WHA This will involve realigning 9 positions and $637 000 in support costs within D CP from the Office of the Secretary to Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs WHA The Special Adviser for Secretary Initiatives position will be removed There is no staff currently authorized for this position This will involve reprogramming $43 000 in support costs The Senior Advisor to the Secretary position will be removed This will involve reprogramming 4 positions and $350 000 in support costs from the Office of the Secretary to Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff S P --- Finally the Department also informs the Committees that the Department does not intend at this time to make any organizational changes to the following offices The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the Office of the Secretary • Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the office of Under Secretary for Civilian Security Democracy and Human Rights J • Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism • Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice • Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor DRL • Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons will continue to be held by a deputy assistant secretary The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation ISN • Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs • Special Negotiator for Plutonium Disposition • Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs EUR • Coordinator for U S Assistance to Europe and Eurasia • Special Representative to OSCE The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs T • Permanent Representative for Conference on Disarmament • Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention BWC Issues The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the office of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth Energy and Environment E • Chief Economist • Science and Technology Adviser The following positions will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs NEA • Israel and the Palestinian Authority U S Security Coordinator • Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS This position will be reassessed as ISIS becomes more of a diffused threat The following position will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs EAP • Special Representative for North Korea Policy This position will be reassessed as North Korea policy advances The following position will be retained and continue to be organized under the Consular Affairs Bureau CA • Special Advisor for Children’s Issues The following position will be retained and continue to be organized under the office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs R • Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center The following position will be retained and continue to be organized under the Bureau of Economic Business Affairs EB • Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs 1