Check this page regularly for updates on Foreign Service news/issues and AFSA appearances in the media - op-eds, letters to the editor, quotes from AFSA executives, issues impacting the Foreign Service community, etc.
NOVEMBER 14, 2012
Can American Diplomacy Ever Come Out of Its Bunker? (The New York Times Magazine)
JULY 16, 2012
Out of Stock: Foreign Service Members Want out of STOCK Act (Washington Post)
Gaps Persists in Mid-Level Foreign Service Positions (Washington Post)
MAY 12, 2012
Honoring Foreign Service Personnel (Washington Times - letter to the editor)
MAY 7, 2012
Memo to Congress: Recognize Value in Federal Service (Federal Times/editorial)
APRIL 18, 2012
Foreign Service Officers Feel Dogged By Airline (Washington Post)
APRIL 13, 2012
Foreign Service Officers Peeved Over New United Pet Policy (Federal Times)
APRIL 5, 2012
Diplomats Demand Pet Parity (Government Executive)
MARCH 8, 2012
Senate Approves Retirement-Work Hybrid for Feds (Government Executive)
MARCH 7, 2012
Obama Gives Administration Jobs to Some Big Fundraisers (The Washington Post)
MARCH 2, 2012
State Department Disciplines Workers for Off-Duty Affairs (The Washington Post)
FEBRUARY 29, 2012
The Conservative Case for Foreign Aid - An Op-Ed by Sen. John Kerry (Wall Street Journal; subscription required)
FEBRUARY 26, 2012
I Work for Uncle Sam, and I'm Proud Of It (The Washington Post)
FEBRUARY 20, 2012
White House Pushes Semi-Retirements (Federal Times)
FEBRUARY 6, 2012
Between Hard Power and Soft (Weekly Standard)
FEBRUARY 1, 2012
Obama, South India and the High Ground of High Tech (Brookings)
JANUARY 27, 2012
Secretary Clinton's Town Hall Meeting (www.state.gov)
JANUARY 25, 2012
Panel Debates Cuts to Federal Retirement Benefits (Government Executive)
Dispelling Myths About Foreign Aid (CNN.com)
JANUARY 19, 2012
Federal Pay and Benefits Remain at Risk as Congress Returns (Government Executive)
JANUARY 16, 2012
Iraq Detains Foreign Contractors (The Washington Post)
JANUARY 9, 2012
2012's Biggest Budget Losers: HUD and State (Federal Times)
DECEMBER 22, 2011
Calculating Pay (Government Executive)
DECEMBER 16, 2011
The Loyal Opposition: Flags for Civilians (The New York Times)
DECEMBER 9, 2011
Congress Passes Bill Giving Flags to Families of Civilian Employees Killed in the Line of Duty (Government Executive)
NOVEMBER 28, 2011
Gary Locke is a Star in China as First U.S. Ambassador of Chinese Ancestry (The Washington Post)
NOVEMBER 21, 2011
Deficit Deal Impasse Threatens Key Initiatives (Roll Call)
Super Committee Failure Helps Feds in the Short Term (Government Executive)
NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Diplomats Respond Bluntly to Perry (The Washington Post)
OCTOBER 31, 2011
House Passes Health Insurance Income Formula Bill, Contracting Measure (CQ; subscription required)
OCTOBER 25, 2011
Insiders: State Department ill-equipped to lead Iraq transition (Government Executive)
OCTOBER 21, 2011
Left behind in Iraq: Thousands of contractors (CNN)
OCTOBER 13, 2011
Democrats want supercommittee to reject more federal worker cuts (The Washington Post)
OCTOBER 10, 2011
So What's the Goal of Our Being in Iraq, Again? (The Washington Post)
Readers on Uncivil Discourse, Diversity and Honor Flags (The Washington Post)
OCTOBER 6, 2011
Spending Bills Threaten Foreign Service Pay and Hiring (Government Executive)
OCTOBER 5, 2011
Foreign Service Association Calls for Program, Not People, Cuts (Federal News Radio)
OCTOBER 4, 2011
Foreign Aid set to Take a Hit in U.S. Budget Crisis (The New York Times)
SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
U.S. troops leaving Iraq, but U.S. presence there just ramping up (Government Executive)
SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
Nides: State Department does have some friends on Capitol Hill (The Cable)
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
The Future of the Foreign Service (The Kojo Nnamdi Show)
Susan Johnson, President of AFSA, AFSA Governing Board Member Matthew Asada, and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter speak with Kojo Nnamdi on his show on American University’s WAMU Radio 88.5. The panel discusses the current state of the Foreign Service and the life and duties of a Foreign Service officer in the post 9/11 world, and their role in foreign policy.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
Advocates Optimistic on Development Assistance Prospects in Foreign Operations Spending Bill (CQ; subscription required)
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
Protecting America's First Line of Defense (The Hill)
SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
Our Man in Damascus (Washington Post - editorial)
SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
After 9/11 Anniversary: The Return of U.S. Diplomacy by Amb. Nicholas Burns (Christian Science Monitor)