American Foreign Service Association

05/29/2026

AFSA urges OPM to withdraw or substantially revise the governmentwide NDA proposal to ensure any guidance to federal employees is consistent with existing law and fully protective of employees’ rights.

Read our full statement: https://afsa.org/afsa-warns-proposed-nda-could-chill-speech-oversight-and-accountability

05/28/2026

AFSA President John Dinkelman summed up his perspective for NPR’s 1A alongside other expert guests on how a diminished State Department impacts America’s response to global crises and support for Americans abroad.

Listen here:

The agency, once the beating heart of American diplomacy, has been the subject of broad restructuring by the Trump administration since 2025.

05/27/2026

AFSA calls on the State Department to grant Authorized Departure at Ebola-affected posts.

The New York Times has reported that the administration plans to send Americans exposed to Ebola to a facility in Kenya rather than bring them home, which is a stark departure from how every previous administration has handled Ebola exposure.

Read our statement: https://afsa.org/afsa-calls-state-department-grant-authorized-departure-ebola-affected-posts

05/24/2026

On this day in 1924, the Rogers Act created the modern U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA was created the same day.

102 years later, we both might be a bit battered and slightly worse for wear from the events of the past year, but the Foreign Service still remains one of the most important and perhaps least understood professions in America.

In a world of burning fires, our diplomats continue to serve on the front lines, often far from public view.

Happy 102nd birthday to the U.S. Foreign Service, and to the people who power it.

05/21/2026

"We are conducting our diplomacy with one arm tied behind our back."

A thorough and thoroughly devastating account of the marginalization and sidelining of career diplomacy since Jan 20, 2025.

Please read:

Donald Trump’s threats, personal envoys and hollowed‑out embassies are reshaping U.S. diplomacy. Allies from Europe to Asia are rewriting the rules of engagement — ignoring the president’s rhetoric and forging new diplomatic channels to manage decisions driven increasingly by personalities, ...

05/20/2026

BLUF: AFSA’s Service Disrupted video featuring Amb. Bill Burns has won a 2026 Telly Award for its “swift and effective messaging.”

It is really an honor. Telly Awards recognize the best in video and television marketing, with more than 13,000 entries submitted each year.

The full story:

Last year, we were reeling from the rapid-fire destruction of our institutions and the cruel treatment of the public service workforce. In response, we launched “Service Disrupted,” a way to sound the alarm about what was happening.

The campaign kicked off with a video featuring the incomparable Amb. Bill Burns, urging everyone to Stand Up For Service.

We’re a small team. Sometimes it feels like we're shouting into the void. But then yesterday, we got the incredible news that our video won a 2026 Telly Award.

To our members, friends, partners, and all the public servants, thank you for your support. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

If you missed the video, or want to see it again, do it now: https://youtu.be/dC9Pt3iOUDQ?si=bhATEhqU6mMwElx6

05/18/2026

Ebola outbreak has now been declared a global health emergency.

For decades, USAID was one of America’s strongest tools for helping to contain outbreaks before they reached our shores.

Once again, the dismantling of USAID and the loss of its deeply experienced workforce are proving to be an unforced error for the U.S.

Read: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/what-to-know-about-the-ebola-outbreak-that-the-who-has-declared-a-global-health-emergency

Photo c/o USAID

05/15/2026

Reply here with a photo of you sporting the merch or send it to us at [email protected].

05/14/2026

This year's Foreign Service evaluation process has been chaos. The State Department’s mishandling of the new format and rollout has called into question the very integrity of the process.

AFSA's advice: document, sign, and, once it’s in your personnel file, grieve. If you’re an AFSA member, we can help.

Review our latest guidance: https://bit.ly/4tD24yW