Retiree VP Voice

BY JOHN O’KEEFE

We face several significant issues as we close out the year. The tumultuous ride since January has created solidarity among us retired Foreign Service AFSA members, united in protecting the national interest through a strong, nonpartisan Foreign Service.

It is inspiring to see the number of us who have stepped forward, working to increase AFSA membership, offering pro bono legal services, writing op-eds, and pitching in however we can. Thank you.

With the RIFs and early retirements, as well as refusal of most foreign affairs agencies to withhold dues, our numbers have dropped dramatically—from 17,000 in December 2024 to about 12,000 in September 2025. Thanks to years of sound financial and contingency planning and some modest cost-cutting, we have managed to provide the same level of service in 2025 as in prior years.

We continue to reach out to former members, many of whom are unaware that their membership has lapsed, and we are confident that our numbers will continue to rise.

AFSA alumni volunteers have been at the heart of this effort. So far, 25 alumni volunteers have made more than 300 phone calls. Since launching the phone bank, both alumni membership inquiries and renewal requests have increased steadily.

As you may have read, the administration no longer recognizes AFSA as a union representing most Foreign Service members. Yet, as we have for the past 100 years, we continue to represent and defend our members, including retirees, as a professional organization. That commitment has not changed.

Our general counsel continues to provide legal advice on retirement-related issues. Our counselor for retirees still goes to bat for you when bureaucratic challenges arise. And I, along with our two retiree representatives, Julie Nutter and Michael Kirby, look after your interests by ensuring that retiree perspectives are considered in AFSA’s policies and plans.

This summer’s debate over the budget reconciliation bill included provisions that could affect pensions, health insurance, and other elements of federal retirement. Thanks to the efforts of our advocacy team, those provisions were not included in the final version.

Next, Congress is considering a State Department Authorization Act and possibly even a rewrite of the Foreign Service Act. If enacted, these could institute profound changes for current Foreign Service members. Whether they will affect retirees remains unclear, but we are watching the situation closely to keep you informed.

Finally, for members who have recently left active service, AFSA offers a robust array of useful webinars covering many of the challenges in your new life. To find the most recent AFSA webinars, please visit https://afsa.org/alumni-retirement-resources.