AFSA NEWS 68 MAY-JUNE 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Webinar Do Diplomacy and Development Have a PR Problem? On February 10, AFSA held a webinar as part of its Service Disrupted series, examining the relationship between storytelling, public perception, and U.S. foreign policy. Panelists discussed the dismantling of USAID and how diplomacy and development are often overlooked by the U.S. public. Moderated by AFSA Director of Communications and Outreach Nikki Gamer, the panel featured Katherine Ntiamoah, a former Foreign Service officer (and current FSJ Editorial Board member) who served nearly 20 years in public diplomacy assignments and now works at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; Jessica Jennings, a strategic communications executive and former USAID spokesperson and chief communications officer; and William Herkewitz, a journalist and communications strategist who served as head of communications at USAID missions in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Panelists reflected on the one-year anniversary of USAID’s dismantling and the sudden disruption of U.S. foreign assistance programs. Ntiamoah described a longstanding “culture of invisibility” among diplomats, noting that Foreign Service professionals have traditionally focused on foreign audiences and avoided domestic political attention. While this approach protected the professionalism of the diplomatic corps, she said, it also left many Americans unaware of the work carried out overseas on their behalf. Jennings highlighted structural challenges that have long complicated communications about foreign assistance. Limited resources, institutional divisions between agencies, and concerns about taking credit for locally led development efforts often made it difficult to communicate clearly with domestic audiences. At the same time, she said, many Americans significantly overestimate the amount of federal spending devoted to foreign aid, which, in reality, accounts for less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget. Herkewitz argued that the lack of public awareness created an opening for misinformation and political attacks. Successful programs that saved lives or prevented humanitarian crises were not widely shared with or explained to the American public, leaving many people unfamiliar with the scale and impact of U.S. efforts. The panelists stressed that from the start, communications should be embedded in diplomacy and development programs. They encouraged practitioners to focus less on funding levels and more on the real-world impact of programs, while also expanding outreach through local media, digital platforms, and community engagement. The discussion also touched on the role universities can play in cultivating the next generation of foreign policy professionals. Despite recent disruptions, Ntiamoah said student interest in international affairs and language study remains strong. Panelists concluded that rebuilding public understanding of diplomacy and development will require greater transparency and more active storytelling. They encouraged current and former practitioners to share their experiences and explain the value of U.S. global engagement to audiences beyond traditional policy circles. Watch a recording of the panel at https://www.you tube.com/@AFSAtube. n State Renames Personnel Bureau, Again The State Department has once again changed the name of its bureau focused on human resources issues. The Bureau of Human Resources (HR) was renamed the Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM) in February 2020. In 2025 it became the Bureau of Personnel and Training (PERT), but in March 2026 it returned to the original name and, once again, is the Bureau of Human Resources. All cables, memoranda, taskers, and internal communications that previously referenced PERT now use “HR” as the bureau designation. According to a March 2 cable, updates to system URLs, application names, email addresses, and other references will be implemented in phases. The bureau is now led by Senior Bureau Official and Acting Chief Human Capital Officer Sarah McKemey, who took up the position in December 2025 upon the departure of Lew Olowski. n NEWS BRIEF
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