Devex: No intent to merge USAID into State, says deputy secretary of state
“The United States Department of State does not currently intend to merge the U.S. Agency for International Development into the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Monday. In a hearing that discussed State Department reorganization efforts and the State Department authorization bill, a number of senators expressed concern at having heard that USAID and State could be merged. … Sullivan said such a proposal ‘could be considered’ by a working group on foreign assistance that is currently considering options as part of the administration’s reorganization at State. … ‘But I can commit to you that there is not an intention of this department to absorb USAID’…” (Saldinger, 7/18).

New York Times: Tillerson’s Grand Renovation Plan in State Department Gets Assistance
“Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson is moving ahead with plans to restructure his department, and has hired two consulting groups to assist with the process, according to a cable sent to embassies around the world. In the cable, Mr. Tillerson said he had hired Deloitte and Insigniam to help oversee the reorganization. … The cable listed five committees that will analyze different aspects of the department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, with leaders from each organization among the committee members. … Mr. Tillerson has said he expected to come up with a reorganization plan by the end of the year and begin putting it to work next year, an unusually long process for such an effort but one that reflects his commitment to a top-to-bottom review…” (Harris, 7/17).

POLITICO: Dozens of former diplomats press Tillerson to keep refugee and migration bureau at State
“Over 40 former U.S. diplomats and national security officers along with almost 20 humanitarians wrote Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, requesting that the administration keep the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Their letter, dated Sunday, comes amid a planned reorganization of the government, which includes a proposal to eliminate this bureau entirely. … The team of more than 50 people sent the letter in response to leaked White House Domestic Policy Council documents, and they argued that this was not the time to remove the bureau with so much turmoil abroad…” (Siu, 7/17).