The third-ranking diplomat in the State Department, Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, announced on Thursday that he was resigning after almost 35 years of service, joining a number of colleagues who decided to do so after President Donald Trump came to power, Glas writes. America.
"My decision is a personal one, made because I want to spend time with my family, reflect on my life and set a new direction," Shannon said in a statement.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told The Associated Press that he asked Shannon not to resign, and later acknowledged in a statement that his departure would be a loss.
"Thirty-five years of experience is not something you can make up overnight," Tillerson pointed out and hailed Shannon's "encyclopedic knowledge of American diplomacy."
Despite Tillerson's praise, Shannon's departure is likely to renew criticism that Trump and Tillerson are destroying the diplomatic service, which has sparked widespread discontent among diplomats and State Department officials.
Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Stephen Goldstein denied that Shannon's resignation was related to dissatisfaction with budget cuts and reorganization at the State Department, which has yet to fill 13 positions for assistant secretaries and undersecretaries, as well as dozens of ambassadorial positions, according to Voice of America.
Thomas Shannon is highly respected in the American diplomatic community and has served under six presidents.
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